At least 91 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, as Hamas fires rockets at Tel Aviv

According to Palestinian health authorities, at least 91 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the third consecutive day of airstrikes. This follows Hamas's first rocket launch towards Tel Aviv since Israel broke the ceasefire agreement on Tuesday. The increasing number of casualties highlights the dire situation on the ground.

The bombings occurred in the war-torn Gaza Strip, with communities in both the north and south targeted in the latest wave of attacks. Hospitals are overflowing with the dead and wounded, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) stated that five of its staff members were among those killed. The ongoing violence has severely strained the healthcare system and humanitarian efforts.

Israel's airstrike operations are taking place concurrently with a ground operation launched in northern Gaza. Israeli troops entered areas around Beit Lahia and further into the Netzarim Corridor—a strip of land stretching from the Israeli border to the Mediterranean Sea, effectively cutting off northern Gaza from the rest of the territory. Soldiers have also entered areas around Rafah in southern Gaza. This coordinated military action indicates a significant escalation of the conflict.

The Israel Defense Forces withdrew from the corridor in early February as part of a previous ceasefire agreement with Hamas. In response, Hamas fired three rockets toward northern Tel Aviv—one of which was intercepted by Israel's "Iron Dome" defense system, while the other two landed in "open areas," according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The breach of the ceasefire has reignited tensions and led to further retaliatory actions.

Early Thursday morning local time, a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels was detected, with alarms waking millions from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Another missile was fired and intercepted on Thursday evening. Despite recent attacks by U.S. forces, the Houthis have vowed to continue attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas. The involvement of other actors in the region further complicates the conflict.

The Israel Defense Forces issued orders for a mass evacuation in the Gaza Strip, displacing tens of thousands of Palestinians, claiming that they are now in a "war zone." Abeer Muhammad Adwan, a 45-year-old resident from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, was among those fleeing. "We are so tired. Give us a break. For God's sake. If you have faith, spare us, and if you don't, then finish us all off with a few airstrikes so we can rest," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). "I am evacuating on foot. I have no money, not a single shekel. It costs 500 shekels (A$216) to go with my daughter to Gaza City, it's a disgrace." The mass displacement has created a humanitarian crisis, leaving many without resources or shelter.

Ms. Adwan's desperation was evident as she said she had been forced to relocate 30 times during the war. "Let them finish us, let the war just end," she said. "We are so tired, I wish we could die—let us all die, I wish I could die with my children so it would all be over." The constant displacement and fear have taken a severe toll on the mental and emotional well-being of civilians.

Hamas has criticized Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip. "The sinful attacks target safe houses, tents of displaced people, and shelters, escalating in relentless destruction and fires that do not distinguish between children and the elderly, mothers and infants," said Hamas's Izzat al-Risheq. The accusations highlight the differing perspectives on the conflict and the devastating impact on civilian populations.

The Israeli government has dismissed claims that it is indiscriminately attacking the Gaza Strip. "We are targeting terrorists, not civilians," said Israeli government spokesman David Mencer. "Every loss of innocent life is Hamas's responsibility, every loss of innocent life is caused by Hamas. We have been very clear with the people of Gaza, distance yourselves from Hamas, move to safer areas." The conflicting narratives underscore the complexity of the situation and the challenges in assigning blame.

Humanitarian workers are warning that the impact on Gazan children is devastating. "Among the hundreds of people who have been killed, 183 are children—that number should shock the world, it should galvanize action," UNICEF's Rosalie Bolen told the ABC from Gaza. "It's all the more harrowing for children who have experienced 15 months of relentless bombardment and very harmful stress, and now all of that trauma is being rapidly reactivated. We estimate that every child in Gaza today is in need of mental health and psychosocial support because they have been living in a permanent state of stress and anxiety. These children I have been speaking to for the past six months, they talk about death often—they say they are afraid of dying, they are very afraid of their parents dying and they will be left alone." The psychological trauma inflicted on children is a long-term consequence of the conflict.

In the interview with the ABC, Bolen and her colleagues were taking cover near where an explosion occurred. "That was an airstrike, that was a bomb that just landed near where I am," she said. The proximity of the violence to humanitarian workers underscores the dangers they face while trying to provide aid.

Israeli police used water cannons against protesters who gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Videos from the Rehavia suburb showed demonstrators pushing over metal barricades. Left-wing opposition politician Yair Golan was also involved in the melee. The day before, thousands marched from the Israeli parliament to Netanyahu's residence, accusing him of inciting war and endangering the lives of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. The protests reflect growing public discontent with the government's handling of the conflict.

Fifty-nine hostages are still being held by Hamas, with 24 believed to be alive. Eli Sharabi, one of the recently released hostages, recounted his experience as a hostage at the United Nations headquarters in New York. "I was held captive in Hamas terror tunnels for 491 days—chained, starved, beaten, and humiliated," he said. "The chains that locked me tore at my skin from the moment I entered until the moment I was released. I barely received food, water, and mercy. I was treated worse than an animal." Sharabi's wife and two daughters were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. His testimony highlights the brutal conditions faced by hostages in Gaza.

"I will stand before the UN Security Council and say: no more excuses, no more delays, no more moral blindness," he said. "You cannot claim to represent humanity and abandon those who are still in purgatory. I say now to every nation, to every person in a position of power, to every person who has heard my words today: bring them all home now." Sharabi's plea underscores the urgent need for international action to secure the release of the remaining hostages.