In brief
In a tragic escalation of violence, Israeli strikes in Gaza have left over 35 people dead, including many civilians seeking aid. Amid ongoing military operations targeting Hamas, humanitarian conditions worsen, prompting urgent calls for a ceasefire as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reinforces his stance against the group.
More than 35 people have been killed in Israeli strikes and gunfire since the early hours of Saturday morning, hospital sources in Gaza say.
A strike on a house in central Gaza left at least 11 people dead - more than half of them women and children - according to officials at al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City.
Health workers reported that nine members of the same family were among those killed in an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp, and at least six people are said to have died while seeking aid in central and southern Gaza.
This surge in violence comes just after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations, asserting that Israel must finish the job against Hamas.
The Israeli air force claims it has targeted approximately 120 locations across Gaza since Friday, focusing on sites allegedly used by terrorist groups. No respite has been seen in Israel's expanded ground offensive, primarily centered on Gaza City, identified as the last stronghold of the armed group.
With hundreds of thousands of residents fleeing Gaza's largest urban center, dire humanitarian conditions follow, confirmed last month by a UN-backed body.
Many civilians express confusion and frustration over the lack of safety as they face the continuous onslaught. They tell us to go there, then come back here... Where should we go? lamented Salwa Subhi Bakr, whose family has suffered losses to the ongoing strikes.
International calls for a ceasefire accelerate as new recognitions of Palestinian statehood emerge at the UN, yet Israel remains focused on forcing Hamas into submission.
Netanyahu reiterated this standpoint in his UN speech, despite the protests by various delegates as he spoke.
Amid peace negotiations led by the US aiming to facilitate a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages, hurdles persist. Trump's administration is said to propose a new peace plan that might pave the way for a future Palestinian state, yet the Israeli government strongly denies these terms.
With an escalating military campaign in the wake of the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, the conflict continues to inflict severe consequences on both sides as civilians bear the brunt of the ongoing violence.
