Death toll mounts in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes intensify, ceasefire hopes falter
Over 67 Palestinians killed and more than 260 wounded in one day as Israeli strikes devastate central and southern Gaza
GAZA, Palestine (MNTV) — Israeli airstrikes killed at least 67 Palestinians and wounded 262 others across the Gaza Strip since dawn Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.
The attacks were concentrated in the central and southern parts of the besieged enclave, where at least 42 fatalities were recorded.
Among the hardest-hit areas was the Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, where a house was struck, killing two and injuring others, according to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. In Al-Zawayda town, another strike on a civilian tent claimed one life.
At the Bureij refugee camp, an Israeli missile hit the Abu Helo School, which shelters displaced families, causing injuries and widespread panic, medical personnel at Al-Awda Hospital reported.
Further south, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital received casualties from a strike on a rooftop room in Deir al-Balah. In Khan Younis, Nasser Hospital confirmed the deaths of two civilians targeted by an Israeli drone on the road to Rafah.
In a particularly deadly incident, four members of one family were killed when their tent in Khan Younis’ al-Mawasi area was bombed. Another airstrike near Nasser Hospital killed three displaced Palestinians sheltering in a tent.
On the military front, Hamas claimed responsibility for killing five Israeli soldiers and wounding 14 in an ambush in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza. The attack took place in a so-called “buffer zone” forcibly cleared of Palestinians, where Israeli operations have persisted for months.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the total death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza now stands at 57,575, with 136,879 wounded since October 7.
Meanwhile, in occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli forces demolished a residential building in Anata’s al-Salam neighborhood, citing a prior construction ban. The eight-apartment, 15-store structure was still under construction when it was razed.
Far-right Israeli ministers escalated calls on Tuesday to halt all humanitarian aid to Gaza. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw from ceasefire talks in Doha, following the deaths of Israeli soldiers. The rhetoric echoed his earlier statements advocating the use of starvation as a military strategy.
Tensions flared further as the Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C in the Red Sea, killing two crew members. The ship, flagged to Liberia, was reportedly targeted by sea drones and RPGs, adding pressure to the already fragile regional maritime security.
International condemnation continued to grow. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told lawmakers in London that the U.K. is prepared to take further action against Israel if the Gaza offensive persists. “Yes, we will,” he said in response to questions on potential sanctions, while emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire.
In related fallout, a Dutch imam has been suspended after joining a controversial visit to Israel. Youssef Msibih of Alkmaar’s Bilal Mosque met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem and sang an Arabic version of the Israeli national anthem. The mosque board quickly distanced itself, announcing his immediate suspension due to his “recent political statements.”
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