GAZA/JERUSALEM- Israeli forces conducted a series of attacks across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, targeting a refugee camp, a hospital, and leaving a trail of devastation. Palestinian officials, media reports, and eyewitnesses confirmed the strikes, revealing a grim toll on civilians.

The Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza bore the brunt of the assault, with the health ministry reporting 90 Palestinians killed. The Shehab family home also became a target, resulting in 24 casualties, as Hamas Aqsa radio reported. In Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, 12 Palestinians lost their lives, and in Rafah to the south, an Israeli airstrike claimed at least four lives.

Eyewitnesses described the scenes as people rushed to rescue those trapped under rubble, emphasizing the powerful impact of the explosions. The Israeli government maintained that its operations were aimed at militant targets, emphasizing efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

Further south in Khan Younis, residents reported a barrage of Israeli airstrikes and shelling, accompanied by the sound of rocket-propelled grenades believed to be fired by Hamas. The Israeli military claimed to have killed seven militants in Khan Younis, uncovering rocket manufacturing parts and tunnel shafts near a school used as a shelter.

Tragically, the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis faced a direct hit from an Israeli tank shell, resulting in the death of 13-year-old Dina Abu Mehsen. The young girl, who had lost her father, mother, siblings, and a leg in a previous attack, became another poignant symbol of the human cost of the conflict.

As the conflict raged on, hopes for a ceasefire and hostage releases emerged, spurred by reported discussions between Israel's spy chief and the prime minister of Qatar. Egypt, another mediator, suggested openness from both sides to a renewed ceasefire, though challenges persisted in reaching a consensus on implementation.

In a positive development, the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza briefly opened for aid trucks, aiming to double the inflow of food and medicine to the besieged enclave. However, Israeli authorities reiterated their determination to continue the fight, expressing a commitment to dismantle Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2006.

Amidst the ongoing crisis, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected in Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, underscoring the international concern surrounding the escalating conflict.