Escalating Conflict: Israeli Airstrikes Intensify in Gaza

Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed at least 37 Palestinians in Gaza, including women and children. The attacks targeted various locations, including a humanitarian zone, amid ongoing conflict with Hamas. International attention remains on the escalating violence, with both sides blaming each other for civilian casualties.

On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 37 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, including women and children staying in a tent encampment meant for displaced families. This area in the Al-Mawasi district had been set up as a humanitarian zone amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The strikes also resulted in the deaths of Gaza's police chief Mahmoud Salah and his aide Hussam Shahwan, as confirmed by Gaza's interior ministry. The Israeli military stated it carried out an intelligence-led operation targeting Hamas operatives, identifying Shahwan as a high-value target but did not confirm Salah's death.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with most of the 2.3 million residents displaced and the infrastructure heavily damaged. The conflict's roots trace back to an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, which sparked the ongoing hostilities, continuing to draw international scrutiny.

(With inputs from agencies.)