In one of the deadliest nights since the onset of the Gaza conflict, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 143 Palestinians overnight, with the majority of casualties reported in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Gaza City.
The victims included numerous women and children, as well as a journalist and his family, according to local health officials. The bombardment coincided with the 77th anniversary of the Nakba, the 1948 mass displacement of Palestinians, intensifying the symbolic weight of the assault.
Israel has claimed the strikes were aimed at Hamas targets and accused the group of obstructing hostage negotiations. However, Palestinian authorities and international observers condemned the attacks as indiscriminate and disproportionate, with growing calls for Israel to end its genocide.
The Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis was among the facilities hit, sustaining severe damage and forcing the evacuation of patients and staff. The hospital’s director reported that the strikes disabled critical infrastructure, including the water supply and emergency services.
International condemnation has been swift. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has labeled Israel a “genocidal state,” while Human Rights Watch has criticized Israel’s blockade of Gaza, calling it a tool of extermination. Pakistan’s envoy to the U.N. has called for independent investigations into Israel’s attacks on medical facilities, emphasizing the need for accountability.
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, defended his recent use of the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza during a Security Council address earlier this week. He highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis, noting that nearly 500,000 Palestinians are at risk of starvation due to Israel’s blockade and bombardment.
As of now, the death toll in Gaza since the conflict’s escalation in October 2023 has surpassed 53,000, with nearly 120,000 wounded. The vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are internally displaced, facing acute shortages of food, water, and medical supplies as Israel maintains blockades and denies humanitarian aid from reaching them.
The international community continues to call for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population.