Israeli Strikes Kill Over 50,000 Palestinians in Escalating Conflict

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the death of more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. This devastating figure emerged as Israeli airstrikes intensified, killing at least 26 individuals overnight, including women and children, and as thousands of residents in southern Gaza faced new evacuation orders.

As hostilities escalated, Israel’s military resumed its operations against Hamas last week, responding to an attack initiated by the group on October 7, 2023, that left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead. The renewed offensive has led to widespread devastation and displacement among Gaza’s population of over 2 million, with many fleeing their homes multiple times due to strikes.

On March 25, local health officials reported that Israeli strikes had killed at least 23 Palestinians in a single day. Since the resumption of hostilities, nearly 700 individuals, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives. The military issued new evacuation orders to residents of northern towns in Gaza, prompting them to move south.

“For your safety, you must move immediately south to known shelters,” the military advised in warnings sent to residents of Jabalia, a historically significant refugee camp. However, both Palestinian and United Nations officials have stated that no areas in Gaza can be deemed safe for those seeking refuge from the violence.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that the military operations are aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the 59 hostages believed to still be held, of which 24 are thought to be alive. Hamas, meanwhile, has accused Israel of abandoning a ceasefire agreement established on January 19, 2025, and is reported to be participating in mediated negotiations involving Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

Hamas claimed that various attempts at a truce have stalled, despite their cooperation. The recent cycle of violence was ignited by the October 2023 attacks that triggered the latest conflict. The Israeli military has described its actions as necessary to dismantle Hamas’ capabilities and to recover hostages.

Amid the ongoing violence, reports indicate that Israel has expanded its ground troops into Rafah, resulting in the displacement of even more citizens. Many families who previously returned home during a brief ceasefire have now been pushed back into the cycle of fleeing violence.

Desperate circumstances forced residents to seek safety in makeshift camps, facing dire living conditions as IDF operations continued. Eyewitness accounts from Rafah describe harrowing scenes of people navigating through chaos, with one woman relaying, “There’s displacement under fire… the shells are falling among us.”

Health officials in Gaza reported that the cumulative death toll has surpassed 50,021, including 15,613 children and increasing numbers of women. The ongoing conflict, exacerbated by a blockade that has severely limited essential supplies for Gaza, continues to evoke international calls for intervention as humanitarian conditions worsen.

The international community watches closely as the conflict rages on, exacerbated by political unrest within Israel. Protests against Netanyahu’s handling of the war have sparked large gatherings in Jerusalem, reflecting the growing dissatisfaction among citizens regarding the government’s approach to the ongoing crisis.

Dr. Munir al-Boursh, spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, has noted that while the scale of casualties is alarming, Israel has consistently reported killing thousands of fighters, although these figures remain unverified.