At least 37 people were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes across Gaza, according to the territory’s civil defence agency, as the humanitarian situation remains dire and international pressure intensifies for a ceasefire.
The renewed military campaign, described by Israel as a push to defeat Hamas following its October 2023 assault, has drawn global criticism. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rejected the framing of the conflict as a war, instead accusing Israel of committing “premeditated genocide.”
Despite indirect negotiations, ceasefire talks have stalled since the last truce collapsed in March. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking alongside Lula, pledged to increase diplomatic pressure with U.S. support and announced a UN conference co-hosted with Saudi Arabia to explore a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) resumed its operations after a one-day shutdown for “reorganisation.” The aid group, controversial for its close ties to the Israeli military, said it delivered 1.4 million meals on Thursday at two reopened sites. However, it continues to face criticism from the UN and other aid organizations, especially following reports that Israeli forces opened fire near GHF centers, causing multiple casualties.
Israel has insisted it does not block aid access, but its forces have acknowledged firing at individuals they claimed posed a threat near distribution points—an incident now under investigation.
In a separate development, Israeli authorities announced the recovery of two hostage bodies in Gaza: Judy Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai, abducted in the October 7 Hamas attack. That assault resulted in 1,218 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians.
Since Israel resumed major operations on March 18, over 4,300 people have reportedly been killed, bringing the total war death toll in Gaza to more than 54,600—predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
