Israeli Strikes Kill 93 in Gaza, Trump Responds/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ As President Trump concluded his Gulf trip, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 93 people in Gaza and wounded hundreds more. The attacks come amid stalled ceasefire talks and growing international concern over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Trump acknowledged the situation, saying, “A lot of people are starving.”
Israeli Strikes Kill 93 in Gaza Amid Trump Tour: Quick Looks
- Israeli airstrikes killed at least 93 people Friday, targeting areas in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah.
- Hundreds were injured as smoke filled northern Gaza, forcing civilians to flee from Jabaliya and Beit Lahiya.
- Israel says it struck 150 militant targets, including missile posts and observation compounds.
- The strikes coincide with Trump’s Gulf tour, which concluded without a ceasefire breakthrough.
- Trump commented, “A lot of people are starving,” adding, “We’ve got to get that taken care of.”
- Netanyahu vows a stronger offensive, saying Israel is “days away” from a major Gaza operation.
- An Israeli official said the strikes are a prelude, warning Hamas to release remaining hostages.
- Families of hostages pleaded with Netanyahu to act, calling the moment a “historic opportunity” for a deal.
- Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 53,000 Palestinians killed, including many civilians, since October 2023.
- Aid remains blocked as Gaza endures a third month, deepening the territory’s humanitarian crisis.
Israeli Strikes Kill 93 in Gaza, Trump Responds
Deep Look
As President Donald Trump wrapped up his four-day Middle East tour, violence surged in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes killed at least 93 people on Friday, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The coordinated overnight bombardments targeted multiple areas across the territory, including Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, with hundreds more reported injured.
The attacks marked an escalation in Israel’s months-long military campaign and added urgency to stalled ceasefire talks mediated in Qatar. They also coincided with Trump’s high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — a trip focused heavily on economic diplomacy and regional influence.
At a business forum in Abu Dhabi, Trump briefly addressed the deteriorating situation in Gaza. “We’re looking at Gaza,” he said. “We’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”
The Israeli military confirmed its role in the attacks, stating that it struck 150 Hamas-linked sites, including anti-tank missile positions and militant compounds. In northern Gaza, where the Jabaliya refugee camp and Beit Lahiya were hit, panic swept through residents as they fled under a sky choked with smoke.
“We got out of the house with difficulty, killing and death. We did not take anything,” said Feisal Al-Attar, who was forced to flee his home in Beit Lahiya.
A Prelude to a Larger Offensive
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled for days that a larger military push was imminent. “It means destroying Hamas,” Netanyahu said earlier this week, describing a “complete mission” to eliminate the group’s grip on Gaza.
A senior Israeli official speaking anonymously said Friday’s strikes are part of preparatory operations for a broader invasion if hostage negotiations fail. The official confirmed that Israel’s Cabinet was meeting Friday to assess talks in Qatar and to finalize the next phase of action.
Hostage Families Plead for Action
Amid escalating violence, families of Israeli hostages urged Netanyahu to seize what they called a “historic opportunity” to negotiate a release deal, echoing Trump’s call for urgency. In a statement, the hostage support forum warned that failure to act “will be remembered in infamy forever.”
Hamas still holds 58 of the 250 hostages it took during its October 7, 2023, incursion into Israel, which killed 1,200 people. Only 23 hostages are believed to still be alive, though the condition of several remains uncertain.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The strikes come as Gaza enters its third month under an Israeli blockade, preventing essential supplies like food, fuel, and medicine from entering. The blockade is intended, Israel says, to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages — but it has also pushed Gaza into an acute humanitarian catastrophe.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 53,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its retaliatory offensive. Nearly 3,000 of those deaths have occurred since a previous ceasefire collapsed in March.
The situation has grown so dire that even Trump — who has generally prioritized diplomatic deals over humanitarian messaging — acknowledged the crisis. “A lot of people are starving,” he told reporters Friday.
Aid Stalled Despite U.S.-Backed Efforts
A new humanitarian group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the U.S., announced plans this week to coordinate aid delivery, led by former military officers and security contractors. They claim key agreements with Israel are in place and expect to begin operations soon.
However, many major relief organizations — including the United Nations — have declined to participate, citing concerns that the group does not align with core humanitarian principles and may be unable to meet the scale of Gaza’s needs.
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