Gaza Death Toll: Intense Israeli bombardments across the Gaza Strip claimed the lives of at least 85 Palestinians on Thursday, according to local medical sources, as diplomatic efforts led by the United States and Arab nations sought to broker a ceasefire. The escalation coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump’s high-profile visit to three Gulf nations.
Southern Gaza’s Khan Younis bore the brunt of the latest strikes, with many of the dead—including numerous women and children—killed as air raids flattened homes and temporary shelters, medics reported.
Among the fatalities was journalist Hassan Samour, who worked for the Hamas-affiliated Aqsa Radio. He perished alongside 11 members of his family when their residence was targeted.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated they had launched air raids on 130 locations within Gaza over the past 48 hours, targeting what they described as infrastructure used by militant factions. The offensive is part of an ongoing military campaign against Hamas, following the group’s deadly incursion into southern Israel in October 2023.
In the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalia, an airstrike on the Al-Tawba medical clinic resulted in at least 15 deaths, Gaza’s health ministry said, marking one of the deadliest attacks on a healthcare facility since the beginning of this conflict phase.
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Diplomacy Amid Devastation
The uptick in violence comes as indirect negotiations continue in Doha, involving envoys from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. Hamas accused Israel of attempting to manipulate the peace process through what it called “negotiations under fire.”
President Trump, who began his regional tour on Tuesday with visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, has publicly called for de-escalation. However, many Palestinians remain skeptical of his influence on the ground.
“The world commemorates the Nakba today, but what we are going through feels even more catastrophic,” said Ahmed Hamad, a displaced Gaza City resident. “We have been uprooted over and over. There is no refuge, only devastation.”
Thursday marked the anniversary of the Nakba, or “catastrophe,” the 1948 displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the Arab-Israeli war following Israel’s founding. Many in Gaza described the current situation as a modern-day parallel, if not worse.
Tenuous Ceasefire Prospects
While Hamas has indicated its willingness to release all remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent end to the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist that only the complete dismantling of Hamas will bring the conflict to a close. He has expressed preference for temporary truces rather than a comprehensive ceasefire.
The Israeli offensive began following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault that left around 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 abducted, according to Israeli government figures. Since then, over 52,900 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, health officials there report.
Mounting Humanitarian Crisis
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Aid deliveries to Gaza have been halted since March 2, and international organizations warn that at least 500,000 people are now at risk of starvation.
Although a U.S.-supported humanitarian relief initiative is set to begin operations in Gaza later this month, relief groups are pressing Israel to allow the resumption of UN and other international aid missions in the interim.
Hamas criticized the delay in aid access following its recent release of American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander. The group claimed the release was part of a humanitarian understanding with U.S. officials and warned that the failure to resume assistance could jeopardize ongoing negotiations for a broader prisoner exchange.
“Neglecting these humanitarian obligations will worsen the Gaza death toll. This is, particularly in allowing food and medicine to enter Gaza, will undermine progress toward resolving the hostage situation,” Hamas said in a statement.
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