At least 60 people were killed overnight in a wave of Israeli air and ground attacks across the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics told local media on Tuesday.
The renewed assault comes amid Israel’s intensified military campaign against Hamas, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vow to expand operations and assume full control of the war-torn enclave.
According to reports by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, 12 fatalities were recorded in Deir al-Balah, a city located in central Gaza. Additional casualties were reported in the southern city of Khan Younis and in areas around Gaza City.
The latest attacks are part of Israel’s escalating “Gideon’s Chariots” military operation, which began late last week and has resulted in daily death tolls exceeding 100, based on cumulative counts from Palestinian sources.
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Netanyahu on Monday reaffirmed his government’s objective: the total dismantling of Hamas and the liberation of hostages still held by the group since the October 7, 2023, attack. The assault by Hamas had triggered the current round of hostilities, now in its 19th month.
In a rare concession, the Israeli government has allowed limited humanitarian aid to trickle into Gaza after nearly three months of total blockade. Netanyahu said the decision followed mounting international pressure and concerns over worsening humanitarian conditions, including reports that Gaza’s two million residents were teetering on the brink of famine.
Despite growing calls from Western allies to rein in its military offensive, Israel maintains that its operations are necessary to eliminate Hamas and restore long-term security. Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise, deepening the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire of an increasingly brutal conflict.