Gaza, April 21, 2025 — Israeli airstrikes launched on Sunday have killed at least 25 people across the Gaza Strip, including women and children, as the ongoing war escalates following Israel’s resumed offensive. Gaza’s civil defense agency reported the deaths, which occurred after dawn, with the strikes also injuring dozens more.
“Since the early hours of today, Israeli airstrikes have targeted civilian areas, killing 20 people and injuring many others,” said Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense agency, speaking to AFP. A separate airstrike in Rafah, in southern Gaza, killed five civilians, the agency later reported.
The latest attacks come after Israel resumed its aerial and ground assault on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month ceasefire that had paused over 15 months of fighting in the region. This resumption has led to a dramatic increase in casualties, with at least 1,827 people killed in Gaza since the resumption of hostilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the military campaign, rejecting calls to end the war or withdraw troops. “We are at a critical stage of the campaign, and at this point, we need patience and determination to win,” Netanyahu said on Saturday, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to rescuing the remaining hostages held by Hamas without conceding to militant demands.
As of today, the overall death toll in the Gaza conflict has reached 51,201, with the majority of those killed being civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. These figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. The war, which began following a large-scale Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, has left a devastating impact on both sides. The attack resulted in 1,218 deaths in Israel, and the abduction of 251 people, with 58 still held captive in Gaza, including 34 who are believed to be dead.