At least 46 Palestinians were killed in fresh Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on Monday, including 31 people who were sheltering in a school building in Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood. The strike hit while people were asleep, igniting their belongings and causing a devastating blaze. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 55 others were wounded in the same attack. Israel’s military claimed it was targeting a command center used by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, though many civilians, including a father and his five children, were among the dead. In a separate strike, 15 members of the same family, including two children, were killed in their home.

The attack comes as Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, which resumed in March after the collapse of a temporary ceasefire with Hamas. The Israeli government has vowed to maintain military pressure until Hamas is eliminated and all remaining hostages — 58 in total — are returned. Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis, the war has resulted in massive destruction across Gaza, displacing nearly 90% of its population. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, with local health officials stating that over half of the victims are women and children.

Meanwhile, a new humanitarian aid plan backed by the U.S. and Israel is facing strong resistance from the UN and major relief organizations. The initiative, designed to distribute aid via private security-guarded points, has been criticized for lacking independence and violating humanitarian principles. The American official who was leading the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation resigned on Sunday, stating the system would not operate independently. UN agencies continue to refuse participation, warning the system could worsen displacement and fail to meet the dire needs of Gaza’s 2 million residents.