In a sharp escalation of violence, Israeli forces have killed at least 70 Palestinians in Gaza since midnight, according to local medical sources. Among the victims are 50 people reportedly killed in northern Gaza alone.
The renewed offensive comes amid growing international tensions over humanitarian aid access. Russia, China, and the United Kingdom have all rejected a US-Israeli aid distribution plan for Gaza. These nations are instead calling on Israel to end its two-month-long blockade, which has severely limited the flow of essential supplies into the besieged territory.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, currently visiting Saudi Arabia, said he is working to resolve the Gaza conflict “as soon as possible.” However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the possibility of halting military operations, declaring, “There will be no situation where we stop the war.”
The humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to mount. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 52,908 Palestinians have been killed and 119,721 injured since the start of the war. The Government Media Office estimates the death toll to be even higher—over 61,700—accounting for thousands still buried under rubble and presumed dead.
The war began following the October 7, 2023 attacks led by Hamas, in which 1,139 people in Israel were killed and more than 200 were taken captive.