Conflict Escalates: Heavy Fighting in Gaza as Efforts for Ceasefire Continue

Israeli forces intensified their operations in the Gaza Strip, clashing with Hamas-led fighters. Palestinian authorities reported significant casualties, with at least 57 people killed Tuesday alone. The conflict hampers ongoing ceasefire negotiations mediated by Arab officials and the U.S., while both sides accuse each other of escalating attacks.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces engaged in fierce battles with Hamas-led fighters across the Gaza Strip, leading to at least 57 deaths according to Palestinian health officials. This surge in violence comes amid accusations from Hamas that Israel seeks to derail Arab and U.S. mediation efforts for a ceasefire. Israel maintains its stance, asserting its aim to eliminate Hamas fighters.

Notably, in Rafah, a southern border city under Israeli operation since May, an airstrike on a house claimed five lives, Gaza health officials confirmed. Nearby, in Khan Younis, a man, his wife, and two children were killed. A subsequent Israeli airstrike on a vehicle killed 17 more and injured 26 others.

The airstrike targeted a senior militant from the Islamic Jihad group, an ally of Hamas, yet it also struck near a tented area housing displaced families, prompting investigation into civilian injuries. Eyewitnesses described chaos and desperation in the moments following the strike.

In central Gaza's Nuseirat camp, Israeli bombardments killed at least four Palestinians, alongside separate strikes in Sheikh Zayed. An airstrike later hit a U.N.-run school in Nuseirat, killing 23 and wounding many, raising questions about the safety of designated humanitarian spaces.

With escalating casualties on both sides and stalled negotiation efforts, the humanitarian crisis deepens. Palestinian and Israeli officials report significant militant and civilian deaths, with ongoing calls for a swift resolution.

(With inputs from agencies.)