Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza amid ongoing ceasefire efforts

At least 60 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to Palestinian medical sources, as U.S. and Arab mediators pushed for a ceasefire deal. 

The attacks coincided with a visit to the region by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Most of the casualties, including women and children, were reported in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where strikes targeted homes and makeshift shelters. Among the dead was local journalist Hassan Samour, who worked for the Hamas-run Aqsa radio station. He and 11 family members were killed when their home was hit.

The Israeli military has not yet commented on the strikes. The attacks are part of an intensified Israeli offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas in response to the group’s deadly assault on Israel in October 2023.

In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of attempting to negotiate "under the cover of fire" during indirect ceasefire talks involving U.S. envoys, Qatar, and Egypt, currently taking place in Doha.

Thursday’s strikes occurred on Nakba Day, when Palestinians commemorate the 1948 displacement of hundreds of thousands of people during the founding of Israel. With around 2.3 million people now internally displaced within Gaza, many say their current suffering surpasses that of the original Nakba.

“What we are going through now is even worse than the Nakba of 1948,” said Ahmed Hamad, a Gaza City resident displaced multiple times. “We live under constant violence and displacement. No place is safe. Death follows us everywhere.”

Violence Intensifies During Diplomatic Push

Palestinian health officials report that the violence has escalated since President Trump began visiting Gulf nations earlier this week, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, with hopes he would push for a ceasefire.

On Wednesday, Israeli strikes killed at least 80 more people, according to local health authorities.

Despite ongoing negotiations, little progress has been made. Hamas has offered to release all remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for a full end to the war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favors temporary truces, maintaining that the conflict must continue until Hamas is eliminated.

In a statement, Hamas said: “While mediators intensify efforts to restart negotiations, the Zionist occupation responds with more attacks on civilians.”

“Netanyahu seeks an indefinite war and shows no concern for the hostages’ fate,” the group added.

A Palestinian official close to the talks said no breakthrough had been reached, citing Israel’s continued insistence on pursuing military operations.

Israel launched its invasion of Gaza following a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.

Since then, over 52,900 Palestinians have been killed, local health officials report. Humanitarian agencies warn Gaza is now on the brink of famine.

A U.S.-supported aid group is expected to begin operations in Gaza by the end of May. However, the organization has urged Israel to allow the United Nations and other agencies to resume delivering aid immediately.

No humanitarian supplies have entered Gaza since March 2, and global hunger monitors warn that half a million people are at risk of starvation.