At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Friday following a new wave of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, according to the territory’s civil defence agency.
The deadliest strike hit a home in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, claiming nine lives. Civil defence official Mohammed al-Mughayyir confirmed the casualties to AFP, noting the toll was part of a wider escalation since dawn.
Israel resumed its military operations on March 18 after a ceasefire—initially declared on January 19—broke down. The Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reported on Thursday that 2,326 people have died since the resumption of strikes, bringing the overall death toll since the war began to 52,418.
The conflict traces back to Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,218 people—mostly civilians—and led to the abduction of 251 individuals. According to Israeli authorities, 58 hostages remain in Gaza, including 34 believed to be dead.
Israel has said its renewed offensive aims to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages. On March 2, days before the ceasefire collapsed, Israel cut off humanitarian aid to Gaza, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations has repeatedly raised alarms over deteriorating conditions, warning of an imminent famine. On Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) declared that Gaza’s humanitarian response was nearing “total collapse.”
“This situation must not — and cannot — be allowed to escalate further,” said Pascal Hundt, ICRC’s Deputy Director of Operations.
