Israeli airstrikes in Gaza escalated Thursday, killing at least 66 Palestinians and wounding over 90 as conflict in the region entered its 14th month. Among the dead were 30 civilians sheltering in a post office in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to medics. The airstrikes, targeting residential areas, aid convoys, and shelters, have intensified calls for a ceasefire amidst a devastating humanitarian crisis.
In central Gaza, the Nuseirat strike caused extensive damage to nearby homes, displacing more families. Palestinian health officials reported receiving 25 bodies at local hospitals, including those of children. Elsewhere, airstrikes in Rafah and Khan Younis killed 13 people described by Israeli forces as Hamas militants attempting to hijack humanitarian aid. Hamas disputed this, claiming the victims were members of a task force protecting aid shipments from looters.
The ongoing bombardment comes as U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan leads renewed efforts for a ceasefire. In meetings with Israeli officials in Jerusalem, Sullivan expressed optimism, citing progress in negotiations facilitated by recent developments, including a ceasefire in Lebanon. "We believe we are positioned to close this negotiation," Sullivan stated, as he prepared to travel to Qatar and Egypt, key mediators in the talks.
The Biden administration faces international pressure to end the violence, with a recent United Nations General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The resolution also called for the release of hostages seized during Hamas' October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which left over 1,200 dead and hundreds abducted.
Since the conflict began, Israeli strikes have killed over 44,800 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli military claims to have killed over 17,000 militants. The war has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, fueling hunger, disease, and catastrophic living conditions.
Amid the violence, medical personnel continue to pay a high price. On Thursday, an orthopedic doctor, Saeed Judeh, was reportedly shot dead by Israeli forces in northern Gaza as he traveled between hospitals. His death brought the total number of healthcare workers killed in the conflict to 1,057, the health ministry reported.
As families flee fresh evacuation orders in Gaza City, hopes rest on Sullivan’s diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire. However, the path to peace remains fraught, with deep divisions between the warring parties and a devastated civilian population bearing the brunt of the ongoing war.