Dozens killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza as conflict intensifies

At least 50 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to local health officials and first responders, marking another deadly escalation in the ongoing conflict.

The bloodiest of the attacks occurred in Jabalia, a densely populated town in northern Gaza, where multiple strikes hit residential and public areas throughout the day.

In the early morning, a missile struck a police station located in the bustling market district of Jabalia, killing nine people, hospital sources confirmed. The station was reportedly adjacent to a number of market stalls and small shops, raising concerns about civilian casualties amid the crowded surroundings.

Later in the day, a residential home in the Ard Halawa neighborhood of Jabalia was bombed, killing at least 23 people from a single family, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency. The agency said rescue operations continued late into the evening as emergency teams combed through the rubble for survivors.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged responsibility for both strikes, stating that they had targeted Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives. The military said the police station was being used as a “command-and-control centre” by militants planning attacks against Israeli forces.

Regarding the strike on the family home, the IDF claimed it was aimed at “a key Hamas terrorist who posed a significant threat to our troops,” but did not provide a name or further details. It emphasized that “precise munitions” were used and that measures were taken to limit harm to civilians.

“Hamas continues to embed its terrorist infrastructure within civilian areas,” the IDF said in a statement. “This tactic of using civilians as human shields endangers lives and complicates military operations.”

Hamas has rejected these assertions, accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilian areas and committing war crimes. “This massacre of innocents will not go unanswered,” a Hamas spokesperson said in a statement released Thursday evening.

The strikes come amid renewed hostilities in the region, as Israeli forces continue their operations in Gaza following a months-long military campaign triggered by Hamas’s cross-border attack last October. The conflict has left thousands dead and displaced much of Gaza’s population, as humanitarian agencies warn of a deepening crisis.

International calls for a ceasefire have intensified, but diplomatic efforts remain stalled. The United Nations has urged both sides to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilians from further harm.

As night fell on Thursday, the death toll was expected to rise as rescue workers reported difficulty reaching several affected areas due to continued bombardment and debris-blocked roads. Local hospitals, already overwhelmed by months of conflict, struggled to cope with the influx of casualties.

“We are receiving wounded people faster than we can treat them,” said a doctor at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. “There is no safe place left.”