Israeli Strikes Kill 93 Palestinians, Families Among Dead/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli airstrikes killed at least 93 Palestinians, including many women and children, across Gaza overnight and into Tuesday, health officials reported. Strikes targeted residential areas, resulting in mass casualties among families seeking shelter. The violence escalates amid stalled ceasefire negotiations and deepening humanitarian crises.
Gaza Strikes Quick Looks
- Israeli strikes kill at least 93 Palestinians overnight
- Multiple families among victims, including children and women
- Deadliest strike kills 19 in Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa district
- Hamas politician Mohammed Faraj al-Ghoul among those killed
- Over 58,400 Palestinians killed since October 2023 conflict began
- Israel vows to eliminate Hamas, blames militants for civilian deaths
- 90% of Gaza’s population displaced amid ongoing attacks
- Humanitarian aid blocked by military restrictions and instability
Deep Look
Israeli Airstrikes Leave 93 Palestinians Dead Across Gaza, Families Decimated Amid Intensifying Conflict
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Tuesday have left a trail of devastation, killing at least 93 Palestinians, many of them women and children, health officials reported. The attacks underscore the escalating violence in the conflict, now stretching into its twentieth month, with no sign of a ceasefire breakthrough.
Hospitals across Gaza were overwhelmed as casualties poured in, including entire families wiped out in a series of strikes targeting residential buildings and makeshift shelters.
Families Decimated in Strikes on Homes and Shelters
One of the deadliest incidents occurred Monday evening in Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa district, where an Israeli airstrike obliterated a family home, killing all 19 people inside. According to Shifa Hospital officials, the victims included eight women and six children.
Nearby, another strike on a tent sheltering displaced families killed a man, a woman, and their two children, highlighting the relentless danger faced by civilians seeking refuge.
Tragedy also struck in the northern Shati refugee camp, where an attack claimed the lives of a 68-year-old Hamas member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Mohammed Faraj al-Ghoul, along with a man, a woman, and their six children who were sheltering in the same building.
No Immediate Response From Israel
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Israeli military had not issued any statement confirming or explaining the specific strikes. Israel has repeatedly asserted that it targets Hamas militants and infrastructure, while blaming civilian casualties on Hamas’s operations within densely populated areas.
Yet airstrikes routinely hit homes, apartment blocks, and shelters without public clarification from Israeli authorities about the intended targets. Witnesses describe scenes of chaos as families are buried under rubble with little warning.
Gaza’s Health Ministry Confirms Rising Death Toll
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 93 bodies were brought to hospitals in Gaza over the past 24 hours, with an additional 278 people wounded. While the ministry did not break down the exact numbers of women and children killed in the latest strikes, more than half of Gaza’s overall casualties since the war began have been women and children, according to the ministry’s cumulative figures.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s military operations have killed over 58,400 Palestinians and wounded more than 139,000, Gaza’s Health Ministry stated. The ministry’s figures, compiled by medical professionals and hospital reports, are considered the most reliable source by United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations, despite operating under a Hamas-led government.
Hamas Politician Among Victims
Among those killed Tuesday was Mohammed Faraj al-Ghoul, a Hamas lawmaker who had served as part of the Palestinian Legislative Council elected in 2006. Following Hamas’s victory in that election, internal divisions with the Fatah movement spiraled into violence, leading to Hamas’s takeover of Gaza in 2007. The legislative council has not formally convened since then, leaving the region politically fragmented.
Israel’s Stated Goals and International Frustration
Israel has pledged to eliminate Hamas following the militant group’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which left roughly 1,200 Israelis dead, mostly civilians, and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Israeli authorities estimate that 50 hostages remain in Gaza, fewer than half believed to be alive.
Despite Israel’s assertions that its campaign focuses on militant targets, the extensive civilian casualties and widespread destruction have fueled international condemnation and heightened calls for a ceasefire. The latest strikes come just days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded talks in Washington without achieving any concrete progress toward a truce or hostage release agreement.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has grown increasingly dire, with aid agencies warning of potential famine as military restrictions and lawlessness obstruct deliveries of food, water, and medical supplies. Over 90% of Gaza’s population has been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety in crowded shelters or makeshift tents that often offer no protection from airstrikes.
UN officials and aid organizations have pleaded for humanitarian corridors and pauses in fighting to prevent further catastrophe. However, continued hostilities and distrust between warring sides have stalled efforts for sustained relief.
As the violence continues unabated, civilians in Gaza remain trapped in an increasingly deadly conflict, facing daily airstrikes, dwindling resources, and the uncertainty of when—or if—the bloodshed will end.
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