GAZA: At least 40 Palestinians were killed in a fresh wave of Israeli air and ground strikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, despite a recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran. Local health officials and eyewitnesses confirmed the casualties amid renewed military activity and civilian evacuations.
The heaviest casualties occurred in central Gaza, where 19 civilians were killed and over 140 injured near a humanitarian aid distribution site supported by the United States. Additional fatalities were reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis, where airstrikes and ground operations targeted residential areas.
Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
The latest escalation has intensified Gaza’s humanitarian emergency. Thousands of civilians have been ordered to evacuate as the Israeli military resumed leaflet drops in northern districts, urging residents to move south ahead of further operations.
Aid organisations, including the United Nations, have criticised current humanitarian corridors as insufficient and hazardous, warning that the flow of medical and food supplies remains severely restricted.
“Enough! The whole universe has let us down,” said Adel Farouk, a Gaza resident, expressing frustration at being excluded from international ceasefire talks.
Ceasefire with Iran Fails to Calm Gaza
While the ceasefire between Israel and Iran signalled a potential regional de-escalation, Tuesday’s events demonstrate that Gaza remains outside the scope of those diplomatic efforts.
Sources within Hamas have indicated a willingness to resume truce negotiations, contingent on Israeli withdrawal guarantees and a halt to further civilian displacement. However, no official response from Israel has been issued so far.
Ongoing Displacement
The latest strikes bring the total death toll in Gaza to more than 40 for the day, with scores injured. Evacuations are continuing across densely populated zones, worsening the displacement crisis that has gripped the region for months.
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