Israeli Airstrikes Intensify in Gaza, Killing 37 Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 37 people on Tuesday, as the violence between Israel and Palestinian militants escalates further.
Civilian Casualties in Refugee Camps and Schools
According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli strikes targeted two houses in Nuseirat, one of Gaza’s historic refugee camps, killing 13 people, including women and children. Another airstrike on a school in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood, which was sheltering displaced families, left at least 7 people dead. Medics reported additional strikes in Rafah and Khan Younis, killing several Palestinians.
Israeli forces have not commented on these specific strikes, but they have consistently accused Hamas of using civilians and civilian infrastructure for military purposes, a claim Hamas denies.
Expanded Military Operations Beyond Gaza
The surge in violence comes as Israel launches a ground operation in Lebanon, engaging in intense combat with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia. This broader conflict could prolong the devastating fighting in Gaza, which has displaced most of the 2.3 million residents and claimed over 41,600 lives, according to health authorities in Gaza.
Regional Tensions and Hezbollah’s Role
Hezbollah, a staunch ally of Hamas, began launching rockets into Israel a year ago, deepening the regional conflict. Israel’s ongoing assault on Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon raises fears among Palestinians that the war in Gaza may drag on. The situation remains tense and uncertain, with violence now stretching across multiple fronts, including Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.
Many Gaza residents, like Samir Mohammed, express concerns that Israel’s widening focus on other regions could prolong the suffering and conflict in Gaza.