More than 80 Palestinians, including women and children, killed in latest Gaza attacks despite global ceasefire calls
Gaza City is facing one of its darkest nights yet. Local hospitals reported that more than 80 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday as Israeli strikes and heavy gunfire ripped through neighborhoods, most of the casualties concentrated in Gaza’s largest urban center.
Among the dead were women and children, including at least 20 people who perished when a strike hit a building and tents sheltering displaced families near Firas market in central Gaza. Survivors described the scene as catastrophic, with families buried in rubble as first responders struggled to pull out bodies.
Civilian Toll Mounts
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency confirmed that a third of the fatalities came from a strike on a crowded warehouse, where six women and nine children were among the dead. Images showed mourners gathering beside rows of bodies in white shrouds outside al-Ahli hospital.
One resident, Mohammed Hajjaj, who lost relatives in the bombing, told reporters: “We came and found children and women torn apart. It was a pitiful sight.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had targeted two Hamas fighters and disputed the reported death toll. “The number of casualties does not align with the information held by the IDF,” the military stated.
Fighting Moves Deeper Into Gaza City
As Israeli tanks rolled further into Tel al-Hawa and Rimal neighborhoods, the humanitarian crisis deepened. The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that al-Quds hospital’s oxygen station was destroyed by Israeli gunfire, though the IDF insisted no direct strike was conducted on the facility.
The IDF also released aerial footage claiming that Hamas fighters fired from within al-Shifa hospital, allegations denied by Hamas, which said outside gangs were responsible.
During a frontline visit, IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir declared that operations in Gaza City aimed to “create conditions for the release of hostages and Hamas’ decisive defeat.” He urged residents to abandon Hamas, saying: “The war will end if Hamas releases the hostages and relinquishes its weapons.”
But Hamas’ military wing warned that any expansion of the offensive endangered the lives of the 48 remaining hostages, with about 20 believed to be alive.
Humanitarian Disaster
The UN human rights office condemned Israel’s tactics, warning of a “sharp increase” in civilian deaths and accusing Israel of deliberately inflicting terror and fear to force permanent displacement.
Hundreds of thousands have already fled Gaza City, but many remain trapped in what aid agencies describe as “dire humanitarian conditions.” Food shortages, collapsing hospitals, and destroyed homes have pushed the city closer to famine.
Gaza resident Thaer Saqr recounted how his sister was killed when Israeli tanks opened fire as his family tried to flee south. “We are now at al-Shifa hospital and will not leave, even if they kill us all,” he said.
Peace Efforts Amid Escalation
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, US envoy Steve Witkoff said that President Donald Trump had presented a “21-point peace plan” to Arab and Muslim leaders. While details remain unclear, Witkoff said Washington was “hopeful, even confident” of progress.
However, skepticism remains high. With at least 65,419 Palestinians killed since the war began on October 7, 2023, international observers warn that peace remains distant as long as the Gaza offensive continues to expand.