At least 80 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to local health authorities. The deadly bombardment intensified as U.S. President Donald Trump embarked on his Middle East tour.
Medics reported that most of the casualties, including women and children, resulted from strikes on residential homes in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza. The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders to residents in several districts of Gaza City, prompting thousands to flee their shelters. The evacuation zones included schools and the largest medical facility, Shifa Hospital, as indicated by a map released by the Israeli army.
Shortly after the warnings, witnesses said Israeli planes conducted several airstrikes within Gaza City. The Israeli military did not immediately comment, stating it was verifying the reports.
In a related incident, an Israeli airstrike reportedly hit a bulldozer near the European Hospital, wounding several people. Late on Tuesday, Islamic Jihad, a militant group allied with Hamas, fired rockets into Israel in retaliation for the strikes on the European Hospital. Israel responded with further airstrikes and issued evacuation orders to residents in Jabalia and nearby Beit Lahiya.
Trump’s Gulf Visit
Many Palestinians are hopeful that President Trump’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates will lead to international pressure for a reduction in violence. On Monday, Hamas released Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage it had been holding.
Speaking in Riyadh on Tuesday, President Trump expressed optimism, saying more hostages would be released and that the people of Gaza deserved a better future. Notably, his Middle East itinerary does not include a visit to Israel.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. Hamas has engaged with U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators to facilitate Alexander’s release, while Israel has dispatched a team to Doha for new negotiations. On Tuesday, U.S. special envoys met with families of hostages in Tel Aviv, expressing hope for an agreement following the deal involving Alexander.
Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of seeking to “escalate the aggression and massacres against civilians to undermine ceasefire efforts.”
Humanitarian Concerns
The U.S. has proposed a plan to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza using private contractors. Israel, which has enforced a total blockade on supplies entering Gaza since March 2, has endorsed the plan. However, the United Nations and international aid agencies have declined to cooperate, arguing that the approach “weaponizes” aid.
