Israeli strikes kill at least 85 in Gaza as Israel allows more aid into Palestinian territory

At least 85 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Tuesday, according to local medics, as Israel pressed ahead with its military campaign despite growing global calls to halt the offensive and allow unhindered aid into the territory.

The United Kingdom announced it was suspending trade talks with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador over what it called “egregious policies” in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. France also signaled that the European Union could take trade-related action in response.

Now in its 20th month, the war has devastated Gaza, leaving its residents facing acute hunger. The conflict has also strained Israel’s ties with many countries, including its closest ally, the United States, whose support now appears to be weakening.

Tuesday's strikes hit locations across Gaza, including two homes where medics reported that women and children were among the 18 killed. A school sheltering displaced families was also targeted.

On Monday, Israel had warned residents in Khan Younis to evacuate to the coast in anticipation of what it described as an “unprecedented attack.” The Israeli military offered no comment on the latest strikes.

In Gaza City, Reuters footage showed civilians digging through the rubble of a school in the Daraj neighborhood. Scattered belongings included burnt clothing and a red teddy bear. At Al-Ahli Hospital, mourners prayed over white-shrouded bodies before burying them.

“What is our fault? What did the children do? What did the women do who were found burnt and torn on the stairs?” said Omar Ahel, a survivor who had been sheltering at the school. “This is injustice.”

Outside a hospital in Khan Younis, Younis Abu Sahloul said an airstrike killed his brother, sister-in-law, and their four children in a nearby camp for displaced people, without warning.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, more than 500 people have died in Israeli strikes over the past eight days as the assault has escalated.

International Sanctions and Outrage

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told parliament he, along with the leaders of France and Canada, was “horrified” by Israel’s actions and reiterated the need for a ceasefire. On Monday, the three countries warned Israel that it could face “concrete actions” if it failed to stop military operations and lift aid restrictions.

In addition to halting trade talks, the UK imposed sanctions on several individuals and organizations in the West Bank accused of committing violence against Palestinians.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein condemned the sanctions as “unjustified and regrettable,” accusing the UK of stalling trade negotiations. “External pressure will not change Israel’s course in protecting its existence and security,” he said on X.

The war, which began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities near the Gaza border in October 2023—killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages—has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and killed over 53,000, according to Palestinian health officials.

Mounting Hunger Crisis

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, particularly since Israel imposed a full blockade on supplies starting March 2. A U.N.-backed monitor recently warned that the territory is at high risk of famine.

While Israel cleared nine aid trucks for entry on Monday, the United Nations said it had received approval for around 100 trucks on Tuesday. However, the U.N. estimates that Gaza needs at least 500 trucks of aid and commercial goods daily. Many trucks have remained stuck at the border for weeks.

Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said supply shortages were dire. “Everything is empty. The warehouses, the distribution centers—they’ve been empty for weeks,” she reported from Jordan, where a warehouse holds enough food for 200,000 people that could reach Gaza in hours.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot suggested that countries like France were considering a review of a longstanding EU-Israel association agreement. “Aid must be immediate, massive, and unhindered,” he told French radio.

Voices of Dissent

In Israel, Yair Golan, a former military deputy chief of staff and current opposition party leader, warned that Israel risks international isolation.

“A responsible nation does not wage war on civilians, does not kill children for sport, and does not pursue population expulsion,” Golan told Kan Radio.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at Golan, accusing him of “repeating vile antisemitic blood libels” against Israel and its military.

The Israeli government has maintained that military force is necessary to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages.

Hamas, for its part, has said it is prepared to release hostages in exchange for an end to hostilities and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.