Escalation in Gaza: Airstrikes and Rising Tensions

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in at least 37 Palestinian deaths, including significant figures like Gaza's police director general. The strikes hit various locations, leading to increased tensions and international scrutiny as more than 45,500 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 Palestinians, including women and children, in various locations across Gaza on Thursday, medics reported. The strikes hit a tent encampment and the humanitarian-designated Al-Mawasi district, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn area.

The director general of Gaza's police department, Mahmoud Salah, and his aide, Hussam Shahwan, were among the casualties. Gaza's interior ministry condemned the strikes as attempts to sow chaos in the enclave. Israel's military stated the airstrikes were intelligence-based, targeting Hamas militants operating in civilian-embedded command centers.

Since Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, the ongoing conflict has claimed over 45,500 Palestinian lives and displaced millions. The heavy bombardment has left much of Gaza in ruins, drawing international concern over the humanitarian impact and calls for resolution in the long-standing conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)