Israeli airstrikes killed at least 50 Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday, local medics reported, as Israel continues its offensive despite mounting international pressure to cease military operations and allow unhindered aid delivery.
The strikes targeted multiple locations across Gaza, including two homes where women and children were among the 18 killed, and a school sheltering displaced families. Medics in Gaza said the airstrikes have killed over 500 people in the past eight days.
In Gaza City, footage showed people sifting through the rubble of the Daraj neighborhood school, where belongings, including a burnt teddy bear, were scattered among the debris. Omar Ahel, who had sought refuge at the school, described the scene as “injustice,” asking, “What is our fault? What is the fault of children?”
Outside a Khan Younis hospital, Younis Abu Sahloul described the death of his family, including his brother, sister-in-law, and their four children, killed in an airstrike that hit a nearby shelter for displaced Palestinians.
The escalating violence has sparked growing condemnation internationally. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with the leaders of France and Canada, expressed horror over Israel’s military actions and called for an immediate ceasefire. They warned that they could take “concrete actions” if Israel did not halt its operations and lift restrictions on aid.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military campaign, framing it as a “war of civilization over barbarism” and vowing that Israel would continue to defend itself until “total victory.”
The war, which began after Hamas militants attacked Israeli border communities in October 2023, has devastated Gaza, killing over 53,000 people and displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents, according to Gaza health authorities.
The blockade imposed by Israel since March 2 has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to fears of famine. While Israel allowed nine aid trucks into Gaza on Monday and approximately 100 on Tuesday, the U.N. says Gaza needs at least 500 trucks of aid daily.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for “immediate, massive, and unhindered” aid, and some countries, including France, are discussing the possibility of revising long-standing agreements with Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan criticized the military’s actions, warning that Israel risked becoming a pariah state. His comments were met with a strong backlash from Netanyahu, who accused Golan of promoting “antisemitic blood libels” against Israel.
Despite the mounting criticism, Israeli officials have reiterated that their goal is to free the hostages and dismantle Hamas through military force. Hamas, however, has stated it would release the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and the release of Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons.