Israeli Strike on Gaza Apartment Kills 23 Civilians \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed at least 23 people, including women and children, according to Palestinian health officials. The attack comes amid a renewed escalation of fighting between Israel and Hamas, with no signs of a ceasefire in sight. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as aid efforts face severe restrictions.
Quick Looks
- Israeli aircraft struck a four-story residential building in Shijaiyah, Gaza City.
- At least 23 people were killed, including 8 women and 8 children.
- Gaza’s Health Ministry and Al-Ahly hospital confirmed the casualties.
- Israeli military said the strike targeted a senior Hamas operative.
- Nearby buildings were also damaged; rescue operations are ongoing.
- Israel has issued evacuation orders and tightened blockades in northern Gaza.
- Humanitarian aid is severely limited, with the U.N. reporting denial of access.
- The war resumed last month after a two-month ceasefire collapsed.
- Over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.
- Netanyahu met Trump in Washington but no ceasefire deal was announced.
Deep Look
A deadly Israeli airstrike hit a residential block in Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood on Wednesday, killing at least 23 civilians, including eight women and eight children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry and Al-Ahly hospital. The strike, which devastated a four-story apartment building, comes amid escalating violence in the northern Gaza Strip, where Israel has intensified its military campaign.
Palestinian rescue teams were still working into the night to recover bodies and search for survivors beneath the rubble. Civil defense teams, operating under Gaza’s Hamas-run administration, said surrounding buildings were also damaged in the explosion.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating it had targeted a senior Hamas militant allegedly involved in recent attacks originating from the area. However, the military did not provide the individual’s name or evidence of their presence in the targeted building. The IDF reiterated its longstanding position that Hamas embeds itself within civilian infrastructure, making densely populated urban zones vulnerable to strikes.
No Letup in Fighting or Humanitarian Crisis
The attack is one of the deadliest in recent days and signals a continued escalation of Israel’s offensive. Since the collapse of an eight-week ceasefire last month, Israeli operations in Gaza have reintensified, accompanied by new evacuation orders, supply blockades, and a stated goal to seize wide portions of the territory.
Israeli officials say these steps are meant to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages. As part of this strategy, the military has ordered evacuations in areas including Shijaiyah, a densely populated district already reeling from months of bombing.
Meanwhile, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the Israeli military has denied approval for over two-thirds of 170 aid convoy requests since fighting resumed. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the situation as “severely strained,” warning that fuel, food, and medical supplies are rapidly depleting.
Stalemated Diplomacy and Hardened Positions
Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting remain at an impasse. Mediators had hoped to negotiate another temporary truce, tied to the release of more Israeli hostages and the reopening of humanitarian corridors. But both sides remain firm in their demands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently under political pressure from far-right factions in his coalition, has stated he will not agree to any ceasefire that doesn’t lead to the “complete dismantling of Hamas.” His government has pledged to continue military operations until Hamas is eliminated as a military and political force.
Hamas, in contrast, insists that it will only release the remaining 59 Israeli hostages—24 of whom are believed to still be alive—once a permanent end to the war is secured.
The war, which began following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel, has become the deadliest in Israeli-Palestinian history, killing more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health authorities. Though the figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians, officials say more than half the victims are women and children.
Global Reactions and Postwar Debate
Netanyahu traveled to Washington this week for talks with President Donald Trump, though neither side offered clarity on an emerging peace framework. Both leaders reiterated support for Israel’s military objectives and expressed concern for hostages still held by Hamas, but the meeting did little to signal movement toward ending the war.
While Trump has publicly said he supports ending the conflict, his controversial postwar proposal to relocate Gaza’s population has been condemned by Arab allies and international observers. Israel has embraced the idea, but critics say it amounts to forced population transfer, a violation of international law.
Elsewhere, calls for a long-term solution are gaining traction. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that France would move toward recognizing a Palestinian state, aiming to do so by June in coordination with Saudi Arabia during a major international summit focused on implementing a two-state solution.
Latest Toll and Outlook
The October 7 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 250 hostages taken. Of those, 25 hostages were released during the previous ceasefire, along with the remains of eight others, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Now, with the war in its 18th month, hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough appear dim. The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with mass displacement, crumbling infrastructure, and collapsing medical services compounding the tragedy of an already dire conflict.
As military operations persist and diplomatic talks stall, the civilian toll—particularly among children—continues to climb, deepening a humanitarian crisis that shows no signs of resolution.
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