At least 114 Palestinians were killed in a wave of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to Gaza health officials and rescue workers. The bombardment, described by residents as one of the deadliest nights in weeks, targeted densely populated areas including shelters, homes, and public facilities.

Southern Gaza Hit Hard

The heaviest casualties were reported in Khan Younis, where Nasser Hospital documented 56 fatalities, including women and children. Medical staff described harrowing scenes, with the hospital overwhelmed by the influx of victims. Lacking sufficient beds and equipment, doctors treated patients on the floor, grappling with severe injuries ranging from burns to amputations.

One physician described the night as a “massacre,” saying the morgue was so full that bodies were placed in corridors. Thirty-six children were reportedly among the dead.

Heartbreaking Personal Losses

Among the victims were Muath (6 weeks) and Moataz (16 months), the infant sons of Safaa al-Bayouk. “I fed them dinner and put them to bed. Everything seemed normal—then everything changed in an instant,” she told Reuters. In another attack, 13-year-old Reem al-Zanaty said her cousin and other family members were killed when their home was bombed. “We were buried in rubble. No help came—we rescued ourselves,” she recounted.

The bombing also claimed the lives of journalist Hassan Samour and 11 of his family members in Bani Suheila.

Northern Gaza Sees Continued Devastation

In Jabalia refugee camp, airstrikes killed 13 people, including worshippers at a prayer hall and patients at a clinic. Later, five members of the Shihab family died in a separate strike, while 15 more, including 11 children, were reported killed in a subsequent attack in the al-Fakhouri area. Graphic footage circulating online shows lifeless bodies strewn across rubble near the demolished buildings.

The Civil Defence reported additional casualties in Beit Lahia and Deir al-Balah, bringing the total death toll from Thursday’s air raids to 114.

Military Escalation Amid Ceasefire Talks

The Israeli military claims the airstrikes targeted militants from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and were part of a broader campaign ahead of a possible ground offensive. The strikes coincided with a regional visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, amid ongoing indirect negotiations over a potential ceasefire and hostage deal.

On Wednesday, prior to the latest attacks, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 80 people, including 59 in Jabalia, according to health and Civil Defence authorities.

Evacuation Orders Spark Fear

The Israeli army distributed evacuation notices across northern areas, including Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood, warning of imminent attacks. Israel claimed that several civilian sites, such as hospitals, schools, and a university, had been converted into “terrorist strongholds.”

Blockade and Humanitarian Crisis

Since March 2, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid and supplies into Gaza, exacerbating what aid agencies describe as a looming famine for the enclave’s 2.1 million residents. The UN has rejected a U.S.-backed aid distribution plan led by the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, citing concerns over neutrality and access.

A War With No End in Sight

Israel resumed its military campaign two weeks after a short-lived ceasefire, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing 58 remaining hostages, 23 of whom are believed to be alive.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, according to Gaza’s health ministry, 53,010 Palestinians have been killed—2,876 of them since hostilities resumed.

As the death toll continues to rise, so do international calls for an immediate ceasefire and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s beleaguered population.