Health officials report at least 62 killed in a day as tens of thousands face forced displacement under new Israeli orders.
Renewed Israeli bombardments across the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, including children, following the Israeli army’s issuance of new forced displacement orders across the besieged territory. On Tuesday afternoon, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that at least 62 people were killed in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours. Medical sources confirmed that at least 23 people, including seven children, were killed in overnight attacks.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, stated that various areas across the Strip were subjected to heavy artillery shelling and air attacks. In southern Gaza, at least five Palestinians were killed when attacks struck two tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis. Another eight Palestinians were killed in an attack on a residential home in Bureij in central Gaza, while additional attacks were reported in northern areas, including Gaza City and Jabalia. In Beit Lahiya, also in the north, an Israeli attack killed at least three Palestinians, including a three-year-old girl.
Khoudary observed, “There have been continuous air strikes on civilians’ homes and shelters where Palestinians are staying.”
Following the latest attacks, Hamas issued a statement condemning the “horrific massacres” and called on the international community to restrain Israel. Last week, Israel broke a two-month ceasefire with the Palestinian group.
According to the Health Ministry, since Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza on March 18, the Israeli army has killed 792 people, including hundreds of children, and wounded 1,663. Amid a total aid blockade, tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee once again, just weeks after returning following the start of the ceasefire on January 19.
In its latest round of forced displacement orders, the Israeli army on Tuesday warned of new attacks in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoon, and Shujayea in Gaza City, citing rocket fire from the northern area towards Israel. Similar orders were issued for Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.
‘Children killed in their sleep’
Aid groups and United Nations agencies have long stated that there are no safe areas in Gaza, as Israeli-designated “humanitarian zones” and shelters have repeatedly been targeted. The international charity Save the Children described the resumption of the war as “a death sentence” for children in besieged Gaza.
“Children are being killed in their sleep in tents. They are being starved and attacked. The only way to ensure children and families are protected is through a definitive ceasefire,” the organization stated.
Nearly 18 months of Israeli attacks have killed over 50,000 people and wounded approximately 113,000, according to the Health Ministry, with thousands more missing under the rubble of destroyed buildings and presumed dead. The Israeli war began after Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulted in an estimated 1,139 deaths and about 250 people taken captive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the renewed offensive aims to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining 59 captives held in Gaza, with about 24 believed to still be alive. Hamas has demanded that Israel adhere to the terms of the January ceasefire, including talks on permanently ending the war in exchange for the release of the remaining captives.
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