On Wednesday, the Israeli military conducted a series of airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 70 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, as reported by local health authorities. This surge in military action coincided with a visit to the region by U.S. President Donald Trump, further escalating tensions in an already volatile situation.

Medics have indicated that a significant portion of those killed included women and children, with many fatalities stemming from a concentrated barrage of airstrikes targeting residential buildings in the Jabalia area, located in northern Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry issued a statement lamenting the dire situation, revealing, “Some victims are still on the road and under the rubble where rescue and civil emergency teams can't reach [them].”

While the Israeli military has yet to issue an official statement regarding the attacks, they have mentioned that they are in the process of verifying the reports of casualties and damage.

Footage from Reuters television captured the heart-wrenching reality faced by residents as they returned to the remnants of their homes, sifting through rubble in search of personal items and documents. Hadi Moqbel, a local resident who lost family members in the recent strikes, recounted the horrific aftermath: “They fired two rockets, they told us the house of Moqbel [had been hit]. We came running, we saw body parts on the ground, children killed, the woman killed, and a baby killed — his head was exploded like a flower. He was two months old.” This emotional testimony underscores the devastating impact of the violence on innocent civilians.

Israeli media outlets reported on the same day that security officials believed they had successfully targeted Hamas military leader Mohammad Sinwar and other high-ranking officials during a strike on a command and control bunker located beneath the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. However, there was no independent confirmation from either the Israeli military or Hamas regarding these claims. Witnesses and medics reported that an Israeli airstrike also struck a bulldozer that was approaching the area of the earlier strike, resulting in additional injuries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly vowed that Israeli forces would soon launch a comprehensive ground operation in Gaza to decisively dismantle Hamas. The mobilization of thousands of Israeli reservists in recent weeks indicates a significant escalation in military readiness.

On the same day, the Iranian-backed militant group Islamic Jihad, which is allied with Hamas, retaliated by launching rockets towards Israel. Prior to the commencement of the Israeli airstrikes, the military had issued evacuation orders to residents in Jabalia and the adjacent area of Beit Lahiya, indicating the seriousness of the situation.

Despite the escalating violence, there were hopes among Palestinians that Trump’s visit might catalyze a de-escalation of hostilities. As a gesture before the trip, Hamas released Edan Alexander, who was believed to be the last living American hostage, raising expectations for a potential ceasefire agreement. Speaking in Riyadh, Trump expressed optimism about the situation, stating that more hostages would be released and emphasizing that the people of Gaza deserved a better future.

However, efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have faced significant hurdles in recent weeks, with both Hamas and Israel exchanging accusations of wrongdoing. Recently, Hamas engaged in discussions with U.S. and Egyptian mediators to facilitate the release of Alexander, while Israeli officials sent a delegation to Doha to initiate a new round of negotiations.

On Tuesday, Trump’s special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler, met with families of hostages in Tel Aviv and conveyed a sense of renewed hope for securing their release following the agreement over Alexander. Concurrently, the U.S. has proposed a plan to restore humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza through private contractors. Although Israel has approved this plan, which comes after a comprehensive blockade of supplies began on March 2, it has been met with skepticism from the United Nations and international aid organizations. Key aspects of the plan, including financing and potential donors, remain uncertain.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued alarming warnings regarding the rising risk of famine in Gaza. Palestinian health officials have reported numerous child deaths attributed to malnutrition since the blockade was instituted in March. As of now, the Israeli invasion of Gaza is a direct response to a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which claimed approximately 1,200 lives in Israel, with several Canadian citizens among the deceased. The Israeli campaign has reportedly claimed the lives of over 52,900 Palestinians, according to local health sources, and has left the already besieged population of approximately 2.3 million on the brink of starvation, as highlighted by various humanitarian organizations and international agencies.