More than 250 Killed in Gaza Airstrikes During Trump’s Gulf Trip
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio expressed that US is troubled by the humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing that Washington is not insensitive to the suffering of the people there.
Israeli military strikes killed more than 250 people in the Gaza Strip since Thursday morning, local health authorities said on Friday, one of the deadliest phases of bombardment since a truce collapsed in March and with a new ground offensive expected soon.
The air and artillery strikes were focused on the northern section of the tiny, crowded enclave, where dozens of people including women and children were killed overnight, said Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Khalil al-Deqran.
Most of the victims, including women and children, died in Khan Younis in southern Gaza due to airstrikes targeting homes and makeshift shelters.
Among the dead was journalist Hassan Samour of the Hamas-run Aqsa radio station, who perished along with 11 family members when their home was hit.
Additionally, an Israeli strike on the Al-Tawba medical clinic in Jabalia, northern Gaza, killed at least 15 people and injured several others, contributing to the total death toll.
This escalation occurred amid ongoing indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, facilitated by U.S. representatives and mediators from Qatar and Egypt, during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Gulf region. Hamas accused Israel of attempting to negotiate under the cover of bombardment.
The United States and Arab intermediaries have been advocating for a ceasefire, while the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with no aid deliveries since March 2 and fears of famine looming.
The Israeli military has intensified its offensive to dismantle Hamas in response to the militant group’s deadly attacks on Israel in October 2023.
The conflict has resulted in over 53,000 Palestinian deaths since then, with Gaza facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essentials due to an Israeli blockade.
The U.S. and Israel are working on plans to resume aid distribution through a non-governmental organization, but concerns remain about impartiality and access.
On the other hand, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio expressed that the United States is troubled by the humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing that Washington is not insensitive to the suffering of the people there.
US President Donald Trump said Friday “a lot of people are starving” in the besieged Gaza Strip, where rescuers reported more than 50 deaths in Israeli air strikes since midnight.
Trump’s brief comments on Gaza came as he capped the first foreign tour of his second term that saw him visit several Gulf countries but excluded key ally Israel.
