Israeli strike hits Gaza City neighborhood

The Israeli military struck a residential area in Gaza City unleashing a dense cloud of dust and smoke as dozens of Palestinians urgently assisted the wounded. The casualty numbers remain unclear. This latest assault follows a deadly incident near an aid distribution point in southern Gaza, where up to 31 Palestinians were reportedly killed and more than 170 injured, as confirmed by local health authorities and witnesses. The strike and ensuing violence occurred amid a tense atmosphere of stalled ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas, which has been demanding an end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, has offered to release 10 living hostages and return the bodies of 18 dead in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, Israeli officials refused to consider these terms. On the diplomatic front, Hamas had sought amendments to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, a move that was rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, who described the request as "totally unacceptable."

At an aid distribution site in Rafah managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a body supported by both U.S. and Israeli interests—witnesses reported that Israeli forces opened fire on civilians gathered for food assistance, with some accounts noting gunfire from drones and tanks. The Israeli military denied any intentional targeting of civilians, claiming that only warning shots were fired to dissuade people from approaching the area.

Medical facilities in Rafah have been overwhelmed by the surge in casualties, with the International Committee of the Red Cross reporting that 179 people have been treated for gunshot and shrapnel wounds. 

The unfolding violence adds to the grim toll of the broader conflict that began on October 7, 2023, which, according to Gaza’s health ministry, has resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths.