At least 48 Palestinians, including 22 children and 15 women, have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes on northern Gaza overnight, according to the Indonesian hospital in the area. The strikes reportedly hit several homes in the Jabalia town and refugee camp. A video circulating online appeared to show at least a dozen bodies lying on the floor.
The Israeli military said it was reviewing the reports. It had previously issued evacuation warnings to residents of Jabalia and surrounding areas on Tuesday night, following a rocket attack into Israel by a Palestinian armed group.
The escalation comes amid mounting international pressure, with the UN’s humanitarian affairs chief urging the Security Council to intervene. Speaking in New York, Tom Fletcher accused Israel of “deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians.” He also called for an end to Israel’s 10-week blockade on Gaza and criticized a US-Israeli initiative to control the distribution of humanitarian aid in the territory.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, responded by alleging that foreign aid was being exploited to support Hamas’s war operations.
In parallel diplomatic efforts, US Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler announced plans to travel to Qatar for renewed negotiations on a potential ceasefire and hostage release agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to intensify military operations in Gaza unless Hamas releases the 58 hostages it is still holding.
On Tuesday, a separate Israeli strike on the European hospital compound in southern Gaza killed at least 28 people, according to local officials. Israeli media reported that the intended target was Mohammed Sinwar, believed to have taken over Hamas leadership in Gaza after his brother Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces last October.
The Israeli military described the hospital strike as “a precise strike on Hamas terrorists who were operating in a command-and-control centre” beneath the compound.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the 7 October 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Since then, at least 52,908 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
