Gaza: A new wave of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Saturday has left at least 54 Palestinians dead, with one of the deadliest attacks hitting a makeshift tent camp in Khan Younis, where displaced civilians had taken shelter. The escalation comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to ramp up military operations against Hamas, following the group’s rejection of a proposed temporary ceasefire.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would maintain and intensify its offensive until its conditions are fully met, despite international appeals for de-escalation and humanitarian relief. Hamas, seeking a comprehensive agreement that includes an end to the conflict and the release of hostages, declined the partial ceasefire offer, deepening the stalemate.
Adding to the tension, Hamas revealed that the body of the guard assigned to captive Israeli-American Edan Alexander was discovered, but Alexander’s whereabouts remain unknown. This revelation has only added urgency to the already complex hostage crisis.
In a particularly alarming development, Israeli forces once again struck al-Mawasi—a coastal enclave in southern Gaza previously designated by Israel as a humanitarian safe zone. Al-Mawasi, overcrowded with displaced residents from Rafah and Khan Younis, lacks basic services and infrastructure. Despite being identified as a refuge, it continues to be hit, raising grave concerns among aid agencies and international observers.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 51,000 Palestinians have died since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, with more than 116,000 injured. However, the Gaza Government Media Office puts the death toll higher—over 61,700—with thousands more unaccounted for and feared buried beneath rubble.
