In a devastating escalation of violence, Israeli air and ground strikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of more than 50 individuals this past Sunday, as reported by local medical sources and rescuers. Among the deceased were children, a cameraman working for Al Jazeera, and personnel from the Civil Defence agency.

The Israeli military stated that these operations targeted locations associated with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the total number of Palestinians killed since the inception of the war between Israel and Hamas has now tragically exceeded 45,000. This staggering statistic includes nearly 30,000 children, women, and elderly individuals, although it has raised significant controversy, with the Israeli government disputing the numbers and asserting that about 20,000 "terrorists" have been killed.

The conflict erupted after a surprise assault launched by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 fatalities and the hostage-taking of 251 others.

Tragically, many of those killed during the recent strikes were sheltering in a UN-run school designed for displaced families in the southern city of Khan Younis. Eyewitness accounts describe a scene of horror, with footage showing the aftermath of strikes that particularly affected the upper floors of the Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz School. Survivors expressed disbelief at the violence that disrupted what should have been a haven for the vulnerable.

“It’s relentless,” stated Louise Wateridge from central Gaza, highlighting the ongoing suffering endured by those in the region. Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) defended their actions, claiming they conducted a precise attack on a command-and-control center operated by Hamas within the school—a point that has drawn significant skepticism and outrage from many humanitarian groups.

Additional strikes targeted another school-turned-shelter in Beit Hanoun, where reports indicated further casualties among civilians, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The UN reported that more than 1,500 people were recently displaced following continued shelling in the area.

In a separate incident, an assault on a Civil Defence building in the Nuseirat refugee camp led to the tragic deaths of multiple humanitarian workers, including the centre directors. Civil Defence agency spokesman Mahmoud Basal condemned the strike, stating that it starkly illustrates the lack of protection for humanitarian workers in Gaza.

Amid the chaos, Al Jazeera mourned the loss of its cameraman, Ahmad Baker al-Louh, who had been documenting the rescue efforts when he was killed. The network vehemently criticized what it deemed Israel's "targeted killing" of its journalist, demanding accountability and respect for international humanitarian laws.

With the conflict continuing to escalate and the toll on civilians mounting, the situation in Gaza remains critical. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that at least 137 journalists and media personnel have lost their lives since the onset of this war, underscoring the perilous reality faced by those reporting from the ground.

As the cycle of violence shows no signs of abating, the world watches with growing concern for the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, where every day brings new loss and agony to its people.