**Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza Kill at Least 54 Palestinians**
In a devastating turn of events, Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least 54 Palestinians. The majority of those killed were inside a school building that housed displaced families. This tragic event has highlighted the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Fahmi Al-Jargawi school in Gaza City was targeted by Israeli forces, killing at least 35 people, mostly civilians who had been seeking refuge there. Civil Defence officials reported that multiple bodies were recovered, including children, many of whom were severely burned in the fire that engulfed the classrooms used as living quarters.
The Israel Defense Forces claimed that they had targeted a Hamas command and control center, but eyewitnesses described seeing large fires consume parts of the school and graphic images of severely injured victims, including children. The manager of Northern Gaza ambulance services, Faris Afana, described the horror he witnessed when he arrived at the scene with his crew.
“This was a place where families had gathered to seek refuge,” he said. “We found three classrooms on fire, and there were sleeping women and children in those classrooms. Some of them screamed, but we couldn’t save them due to the fires.”
The twin attacks are part of a larger Israeli offensive that has escalated over the last week in northern Gaza. The IDF claimed to have hit 200 targets in Gaza within 48 hours as it continued operations against “terrorist organizations”.
**Ceasefire Proposal Rejected**
Despite the ongoing violence, there had been hopes for a ceasefire. A senior Hamas official told the BBC on Monday that they had accepted the latest ceasefire offer from US special envoy Steve Witkoff. However, Witkoff himself stated that the proposal under discussion was different from his own.
The proposed deal would have seen Hamas release 10 Israeli hostages in two phases, with Israel withdrawing its forces from Gaza and releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners. However, anonymous Israeli officials reportedly rejected the plan.
**International Outrage**
The international community has condemned the violence in Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross reiterated its call for a ceasefire, citing the deaths of two of their employees who were killed in a bombing of their home in Khan Younis.
The UN and other humanitarian organizations have accused an organization approved by both Israel and the US to use private companies to deliver aid to Gaza of discrimination. The Israeli government has imposed an 11-week total blockade on Gaza, allowing only limited amounts of aid into the territory.
**Humanitarian Crisis**
The situation in Gaza is dire, with a severe shortage of food and medicine. The UN reports that at least 500-600 lorries per day are needed to meet the humanitarian needs of the population. Despite this, only 107 lorries carrying relief aid were allowed to enter Gaza on Sunday.
In Madrid, a meeting of 20 countries and organizations took place to discuss the end of the Gaza war. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for an arms embargo against Israel if they do not stop their attacks.
The conflict has resulted in devastating losses for both Israelis and Palestinians. Since October 2023, at least 53,939 deaths have occurred in Gaza, including 16,500 children.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
