At least 37 displaced civilians were killed on Thursday in Gaza air strikes, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Most of the victims were women and children living in tents at Al-Mawasi, an area previously declared a safe zone by Israel. “We were sitting peacefully in the tent, under God’s protection, when we suddenly saw something red glowing — and then the tent exploded,” said survivor Israa Abu al-Rus. The strikes have sparked fresh outrage over the rising Gaza death toll and worsening humanitarian crisis.
Israeli air strikes hit camps for displaced civilians
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal confirmed that two Israeli missiles struck tents in Al-Mawasi, killing 16 people and injuring 23. Additional Gaza air strikes killed seven people in Beit Lahia, and a father and son near Al-Mawasi. In Jabalia, air strikes killed seven members of the Asaliya family and three others in a school shelter. Two more civilians died in the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City. Survivors say Israel’s military offensive continues to target civilians in Gaza, including those in declared safe zones.
Gaza death toll rises amid ongoing Israeli military offensive
Since March, Israel has resumed its military campaign in Gaza, killing at least 1,691 people. The total Gaza death toll now stands at 51,065, with the majority being civilians. The Israeli military said it had struck “approximately 1,200 terror targets” and conducted “over 100 targeted eliminations” since March 18. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the aim is to create a 30% buffer zone inside Gaza. This policy has contributed to mass civilian displacement and rising casualties from repeated Gaza air strikes.
Gaza humanitarian crisis worsens as aid is blocked
Hamas has accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon. The group said, “This is a public admission of committing a war crime,” referring to Israeli decisions to block humanitarian aid since March 2. Over half a million Palestinians have been displaced in what the UN calls the most severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza since the war began after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Israel claims the aid block is necessary to prevent supplies from reaching Hamas, but the impact on civilians has been devastating.
Hamas responds to Israeli truce offer as Gaza death toll mounts
Truce negotiations are ongoing. Two Hamas officials told AFP they are concluding internal discussions on an Israeli proposal for a 45-day ceasefire. Hamas maintains that its “weapons will not be subject to any negotiations.” Meanwhile, the Gaza death toll continues to rise. “This is supposed to be a safe area in Al-Mawasi, and the place just exploded,” said another survivor. Israel’s unrelenting Gaza air strikes have left camps for displaced civilians in ruins, raising global concern about possible war crimes.
Gaza air strikes kill civilians and worsen crisis
As Gaza air strikes kill 37 displaced civilians in tents and shelters, the war shows no signs of stopping. Camps once labelled “safe zones” have become deadly targets. The continued Israeli military offensive, mass displacement, rising Gaza death toll, and deliberate aid blockades have pushed Gaza deeper into a humanitarian disaster. Unless a truce is agreed upon soon, displaced civilians will remain the most affected victims of the Gaza air strikes and the wider war.
