Ongoing Israeli Airstrikes Kill Over 100 Palestinians, Including Dozens Sheltering at School

Deir Al Balah (Gaza Strip): Israeli airstrikes killed at least 100 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Thursday in a dramatically intensified military campaign that has drawn international condemnation. Among the dead were at least 27 people, including 14 children and five women, who were sheltering in a school in Gaza City's Tuffah neighbourhood, according to Palestinian health officials. The attack left more than 70 others wounded, many critically, suggesting the toll could still rise. Additional Israeli strikes killed over 30 civilians in Shijaiyah, another neighbourhood in Gaza City.
The Israeli military claimed it was targeting a “Hamas command and control centre,” the same justification it gave for bombing a United Nations -run shelter the day before—an assault that killed at least 17 people. However, rights groups and local authorities have slammed these attacks as deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, accusing Israel of war crimes.
Hamas labelled the school strike a 'heinous massacre' of civilians. As Israeli forces expanded evacuation orders for northern Gaza, thousands of desperate residents fled on foot, many carrying children or pushing carts, amid mounting fears of further large-scale attacks.
“I’m searching for shelters every hour now, not every day,” said 72- year -old Mohammad Ermana, who described walking for hours with his wife, both of them leaning on canes. “This isn’t survival anymore—it’s suffering without end.”
Since Israel resumed its bombardment following a broken ceasefire, the United Nations reports that over 280,000 Palestinians have been displaced. Israeli officials have openly declared their intention to seize large swaths of Gaza and create a militarised “security corridor,” a move widely seen as a precursor to de facto annexation.
Humanitarian organisations have condemned Israel’s month long blockade on food, fuel, and aid—tactics they say are designed to collectively punish Gaza’s population and constitute a clear violation of international law.

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza

Mass Casualties, Including Children and Pregnant Women

Hospital officials said Israeli strikes overnight killed at least 55 people, with many more wounded. In Khan Younis, 14 bodies, including nine from one family, were taken to Nasser Hospital. Another 19 victims, including five children aged 1 to 7 and a pregnant woman, were taken to the European Hospital. Additional casualties were reported in Gaza City and central Gaza, where emergency workers continue to work under catastrophic conditions.
In another disturbing development, the Israeli military opened fire on ambulances in an incident on March 23, killing 15 medics and burying them in a mass grave, according to UN officials. Although the military claims the ambulances were “operating suspiciously,” rights groups dismiss the explanation and point to a consistent pattern of impunity. An internal investigation has been promised, but past inquiries have rarely resulted in accountability.

Children in Gaza

The Palestine Red Crescent Society believes some of the medics were still alive when Israeli forces overtook them. Audio dispatches captured conversations between medics and Israeli soldiers, moments before the ambulances were hit. Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour has submitted video evidence to the UN showing clearly marked emergency vehicles being ambushed, allegedly by Israeli troops.

Plans for Permanent Occupation and Displacement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to establish a permanent “security corridor” across Gaza, effectively severing its southern region and displacing hundreds of thousands. His remarks suggested support for the mass relocation of Gaza’s population under the guise of “voluntary emigration”—a policy widely denounced as ethnic cleansing.
Israel has already asserted full control over the Netzarim corridor, dividing Gaza’s north from the rest of the strip. Netanyahu’s endorsement of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s discredited resettlement proposal marks a stark escalation in Israeli efforts to reshape the territory’s demographics.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023. More than half of the dead are women and children. The Israeli government claims it has killed 20,000 militants but has provided no evidence. Meanwhile, nearly all of Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, and 90% of its population has been forced from their homes.

Netanyahu Defies Arrest Warrant with Hungary Visit

Despite an active arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes—including starvation tactics and deliberate targeting of civilians—Netanyahu travelled to Hungary on Thursday. Hungary, an ICC member state, is obliged to detain him but has instead announced plans to withdraw from the court, effectively shielding Netanyahu from justice.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, issued warrants for both Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November. Human rights organisations have hailed the move as a long-overdue step toward accountability in a conflict marked by disproportionate use of force and systematic abuses.

Israeli airstrike in a residential building in Sidon

Israeli Airstrike Targets Lebanon

Early Friday, an Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in Sidon, Lebanon, killing at least two people. It marked the first attack on Lebanon’s third-largest city since a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah last year. No official statement was issued by the Israeli military, but the strike adds to growing fears of a regional escalation as Israel continues cross-border operations.

(With Inputs from PTI)