The Gaza Strip has witnessed a devastating surge in violence, with over 300 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the last 48 hours, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. This brutal escalation has seen Israel commit “26 bloody massacres” in the same period, leaving a trail of destruction and death in its wake. Medical sources have confirmed that at least 73 Palestinians have been killed since dawn, including 33 aid seekers who were shot at in “unprovoked gunfire” at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid sites.
Witnesses describe “horror scenes” as Israeli forces target civilians, including those seeking aid. In one incident, an Israeli strike hit a tent in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, killing 13 people, including a couple and their four children. Another attack targeted the Mustafa Hafez School, sheltering displaced people west of Gaza City, killing 11 people. At least six people were killed and 100 injured in an attack targeting aid seekers near the Nabulsi Roundabout, west of Gaza City.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 57,012 people and wounded 134,592 since the conflict began. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive. “It’s a killing field,” a soldier told Haaretz, describing the orders to fire at crowds of unarmed aid seekers to disperse them.
Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, with doctors warning of catastrophic shortages and rising casualties. Christy Black, an Australian nurse volunteering in Gaza City, said the hospital she’s based in is short of medical supplies, including formula for pregnant women who require nasogastric feeding. “The most vulnerable are dying,” she said. “We’ve seen a couple of babies die over the last couple of days in Gaza City. It’s really desperate here.”
In light of the escalating violence, Hamas has confirmed it is studying new proposals for a temporary ceasefire. US President Donald Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a proposal for a 60-day truce, saying, “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the deal is popular both in the Israeli cabinet and within the public at large.
Despite the momentum behind a ceasefire, Israeli forces continue to target civilians, including aid seekers. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the US and Israel, has come under scrutiny for its role in distributing aid, with critics arguing it places civilians in perilous situations. Over 170 NGOs have demanded an immediate end to the GHF aid system, citing security concerns and ethical questions around impartiality.