At least 15 Palestinians, including 10 women and children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight and into Sunday, as reported by local health officials. The strikes targeted a residential house and a tent in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of five men, five women, and five children. These attacks mark a continued escalation in Israel’s military operations after it ended a temporary ceasefire with Hamas last month. The strikes come as Israel intensifies pressure on Hamas to agree to a new ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Since resuming its ground and air campaign, Israel has also tightened its blockade on the Gaza Strip, cutting off critical supplies such as food, fuel, and humanitarian aid. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the ongoing war has so far claimed at least 50,695 Palestinian lives and injured over 115,000 people, although the ministry does not specify the number of civilian versus militant casualties. In contrast, Israeli authorities claim to have eliminated approximately 20,000 Hamas fighters, but have not provided verifiable evidence to support this figure.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. While many hostages were released through temporary ceasefires and negotiated deals, 59 remain in captivity — 24 of whom are believed to still be alive. As the conflict continues to devastate Gaza’s civilian population and infrastructure, international observers and humanitarian agencies are increasingly raising concerns about the disproportionate toll on non-combatants, particularly women and children, caught in the crossfire.