Israeli strikes kill 40 Palestinians in Gaza, UN warns of mass displacement
Civilian camps and UN shelters hit in latest attacks as Gaza reels from fresh airstrikes; over half a million displaced since March amid growing international alarm
GAZA, Palestine (MNTV) – At least 40 Palestinians have been killed and 73 more injured in the last 24 hours as Israeli airstrikes pounded multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry.
The relentless bombardment, which began overnight, targeted several civilian sites, including makeshift displacement camps and a UN-run school, further deepening the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli warplanes struck tents in the Al-Mawasi area near the southern city of Khan Younis, killing at least 16 people.
Simultaneously, Gaza City witnessed one of the deadliest single-day tolls in weeks, with 21 more reported killed.
In the north, Israeli fighter jets attacked the Jabalia refugee camp twice—first hitting a tent, killing seven, and later targeting a school run by the United Nations that was sheltering hundreds of displaced civilians.
At least six Palestinians were confirmed dead in the latter strike. Another two people died in separate air raids as Israeli military operations intensified across the territory. An Israeli naval gunboat also shelled areas west of Gaza City, continuing the assault from the sea.
The latest violence comes amid grim figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry, which says 51,065 Palestinians have been confirmed dead and 116,505 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since it began 18 months ago.
Meanwhile, Palestinians across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem marked Prisoners’ Day with protests, even as news emerged that a 20-year-old Palestinian detainee had died in an Israeli prison.
Human rights groups are calling for an independent inquiry into his death.
The United Nations now estimates that more than 500,000 Palestinians have been newly displaced since Israel resumed full-scale operations on March 18.
With nowhere to go and shelters increasingly targeted, families are being forced to move repeatedly in desperate search of safety.
In a rare piece of good news, authorities in Gaza City managed to restore water to nearly one million residents after a two-week outage caused by damage to the city’s main pipeline, which is fed by Israel’s Mekorot water company and serves around 70% of the urban population.
International diplomatic efforts to halt the bloodshed are showing renewed activity.
On Thursday, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, a key mediator in past ceasefire talks, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Sheikh Tamim criticised Israel for failing to respect the January ceasefire agreement. “We reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement,” he said, vowing to continue efforts to bring an end to Palestinian suffering.
President Putin echoed these sentiments, acknowledging Qatar’s “serious” mediation efforts.
“A long-term settlement can only be achieved on the basis of UN resolutions, especially those calling for the establishment of two states,” he stated, referring to the long-delayed vision of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Although legal pressure is also mounting on Israel in international courts, it is not showing any remorse.
In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to their conduct in Gaza.
Additionally, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is hearing a separate genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa, alleging systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians.
As airstrikes persist and the civilian toll climbs, international observers warn of a spiralling crisis with diminishing safe spaces and rapidly deteriorating living conditions.
Humanitarian agencies are urging immediate ceasefire and unimpeded access for aid, as Gaza’s population teeters on the brink of further catastrophe.
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