Israeli airstrikes on Monday killed at least 52 people in the Gaza Strip, with 33 fatalities occurring at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, according to rescuers.
The civil defence agency reported that many of the school casualties were children, while the Israeli military claimed the site housed “key terrorists.”
This escalation in Israel’s offensive against Hamas has drawn intensified international criticism, particularly from European allies.
Simultaneously, mediators have presented a proposal for a 70-day ceasefire and hostage-release deal to both Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian source confirmed.
A Hamas source indicated the group accepted the proposal, attributed to US envoy Steve Witkoff.
The renewed Israeli offensive comes as aid continues to trickle into Gaza following a blockade since early March, exacerbating severe food and medical shortages.
European and Arab leaders, meeting in Spain, strongly condemned the “inhumane” and “senseless” war, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz voicing unusually strong criticism of Israel’s actions, stating their impact on civilians “can no longer be justified.”
Despite this, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul confirmed continued weapons sales to Israel.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for an arms embargo on Israel and unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In addition to the school strike, another attack in Jabalia killed at least 19 people. The Israeli military reported over 200 targets struck in Gaza within the past 48 hours and detected three projectiles launched towards Israel on Monday, with one intercepted.
Meanwhile, the UN stated only five per cent of Gaza’s farmland remains usable, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.
The Gaza health ministry, run by Hamas, reported at least 3,822 deaths in the territory since the March 18 ceasefire collapse, bringing the total war toll to 53,977, predominantly civilians.
The conflict was triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages, of whom 57 remain in Gaza.