The Israeli strike killed dozens of Palestinians in northern Gaza overnight, Palestinian health officials said Wednesday that Israel threatened to bolster its military campaign at the enclave despite international pressure.
More than 50 people killed overnight had arrived at Indonesian hospitals by noon Wednesday, according to Marwan Sultan, director of medical facilities in Beit Rahia town. He said the children were among the dead and dozens more were injured. Gaza's health ministry also said about 70 people were killed on Wednesday without specifying where they were.
Gaza health authorities do not distinguish between combatants and civilians when reporting deaths.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee warned of an imminent attack on parts of northern Gaza Tuesday night.
The Trump administration has tried to mediate the conclusion of an 18-month war that Palestinian health officials killed more than 50,000 people and brought enclaves on the brink of starvation.
After Israel ended a two-month ceasefire with Hamas in March, Israeli forces reopened by shelling the Gaza Strip. The ground forces also robbed areas that had withdrawn during the ceasefire and snatched areas that had unfolded during the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has more recently threatened Gaza's “intensive” escalation, unless Hamas has placed his weapons and took over hostages. The Israeli army has called thousands of additional soldiers to strengthen its war effort, and the government has vowed to seize additional territory there until Hamas complies.
Hamas leaders refused to disarm them and said they would not release the remaining hostages unless Israel ends the war and withdraws from the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday night, the Israeli fighter Jets attacked Khanyanis in Gaza's southern Gaza city to kill Muhammad Singhwar, one of the group's top remaining military commanders. Israeli forces said they targeted the Hamas complex under a European hospital near Khan Yunis.
Neither Israel nor Hamas publicly commented on whether Singwar was killed in the artillery fire.
Israeli officials said they hope that one of Hamas' most incompatible negotiators, Singwar, will become more flexible in demand for a ceasefire. However, since the start of the war, Israel has assassinated many Hamas leaders without encouraging the groups to accept the terms.
Singwar's brother, Yahiya Singwar, leads Hamas in Gaza and is one of the main planners on October 7, 2023, an attack on southern Israel that sparked the war. After Yahya Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces last year, Muhammad Sinwar took on a more prominent role within the group.
