Escalating Tensions Erupt in Gaza and West Bank: Israeli Airstrikes Claim Lives

An Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City school killed at least 15 Palestinians, and additional strikes in the West Bank claimed nine militants, including a Hamas commander. The conflict has intensified regionally with rising tensions involving Iran and Hezbollah. Diplomatic efforts continue, but a ceasefire remains elusive.

An Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced persons in Gaza City killed at least 15 Palestinians on Saturday. Hours earlier, strikes in the West Bank killed nine militants, including a local Hamas commander, according to Hamas. The Israeli military confirmed that one of the West Bank airstrikes targeted a militant cell en route to an attack.

Hamas reported that one of those killed was a commander of its Tulkarm brigades, while Islamic Jihad claimed the other four men killed. Another airstrike in the West Bank targeted militants who had fired on troops, characterized by Israel as a counterterrorism operation. Violence has risen in the West Bank and Gaza, fueled by escalating tensions involving Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, sparking fears of a broader Middle East conflict.

The U.S. and international partners, including France, Britain, Italy, and Egypt, pursued diplomatic channels to prevent further escalation. Hamas initiated the process to select a new leader after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, for which it blames Israel. Meanwhile, ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza have resulted in significant Palestinian casualties, amid calls for a ceasefire.

(With inputs from agencies.)