Gaza: On May 29, 2025, a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 Palestinians and injuring many others. The strikes hit residential buildings, including a home belonging to the Al-Qarnawi family, causing significant casualties and destruction.
These attacks are part of a broader military campaign that has intensified across the Gaza Strip, with reports indicating a total of 37 Palestinians killed in various regions on the same day.
The airstrikes occurred early in the morning, catching many residents off guard. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation as rescue teams struggled to retrieve bodies from the rubble. The densely populated nature of refugee camps like Bureij exacerbates the impact of such attacks, leading to higher civilian casualties. Medical facilities, already overwhelmed and under-resourced due to the ongoing blockade, are struggling to provide adequate care to the injured.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly. The World Food Programme has reported that all residents of Gaza face acute food insecurity, with approximately 70,000 children requiring urgent treatment for malnutrition. The blockade has severely limited the entry of essential supplies, including food, medicine, and fuel, compounding the crisis.
In a related development, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the approval of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking the most extensive expansion since the Oslo Accords. This move has drawn international condemnation, with human rights organizations labeling it as a form of de facto annexation and a violation of international law.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering death toll. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 54,249 Palestinians have been killed and 123,492 wounded since the escalation began in October 2023. The Government Media Office reports that the death toll has surpassed 61,700, accounting for those missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
The international community continues to call for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of Gaza's civilian population.
