At least 81 people have died in Gaza following Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours, according to the health ministry run by Hamas. More than 400 others have been reported injured. One particularly devastating strike occurred near a stadium in Gaza City, where at least 11 individuals, including children, lost their lives. This stadium was serving as a shelter for displaced families living in tents.
Witnesses and hospital staff described chaotic scenes as people dug through the rubble with their bare hands, searching for victims. Footage verified by the BBC shows the desperate efforts of those trying to recover bodies from the debris.
The Israeli military responded by stating they were unaware of any injuries from the strike, except for one individual they claimed posed a threat to their forces. This claim has been met with skepticism from local residents, who insist that the area was filled with civilians, not militants.
In the ongoing conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope for a ceasefire in the coming week. Qatari mediators are also working to broker a deal, especially after a recent truce between Israel and Iran. Previous attempts at a ceasefire have faltered, with a two-month agreement collapsing in March after new strikes were launched by Israel.
On Saturday evening, a rally took place in Tel Aviv, where demonstrators called for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. They urged an end to the fighting, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive solution.
The Israeli attacks on Gaza have intensified, with reports indicating that 14 more individuals, including children, were killed in strikes on an apartment building and a tent in the al-Mawasi area. Relatives of the victims expressed their grief and questioned the rationale behind targeting innocent civilians.
Further casualties were reported in the Tuffah neighborhood, where an airstrike killed at least eight, including five children. Residents voiced their confusion and pain, asking why they were being harmed when they had done nothing to provoke such violence.
The health ministry has indicated that rescue teams are struggling to reach those trapped under the rubble due to the destruction and chaos in the affected areas. The Israeli Defense Forces stated they targeted a "suspicious individual" in the Tuffah strike, claiming they took steps to minimize civilian harm.
In a broader context, the IDF announced the death of Hakham Muhammad Issa al-Issa, a senior Hamas military figure, during a strike in Gaza City. They labeled him a key planner behind Hamas’s recent attacks on Israel, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages taken.
Since the outbreak of violence, the Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 56,000 people have been killed in Gaza. The situation remains dire, with many civilians caught in the crossfire as efforts for peace continue to stall.