Israel strikes Gaza latest: ‘At least 235 dead’ as Israel launches deadliest airstrikes since January ceasefire – UK Times

The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza this morning has risen to 254, according to hospital officials in the Strip.

The strikes were ordered by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu after consulting the Trump administration.

The strikes targeted densely populated urban areas, makeshift schools, residential buildings, and shelters housing displaced people in tents.

Several eyewitnesses said that women and children were among the dead. Many were seen with the remains of children.

The Israeli strikes overnight targeted densely populated urban areas, makeshift schools, residential buildings, and shelters housing displaced people in tents.

The death toll is expected to rise, with Al Jazeera reporting that at least 308 Palestinians have been killed in the strikes so far.

Medical sources told the outlet that Tuesday’s attacks killed at least 77 people in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and at least 20 in Gaza City in the north.

Israeli airstrikes also targeted areas in central Deir el-Balah and Rafah in the south.

Dr Razan Al-Nahhas, a volunteer physician at Al-Ahli Hospital, described the aftermath of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza as “absolutely horrific” and told CNN that heavily wounded patients and bodies, including children, are piling up.

“It’s been absolutely horrific. Nothing close to anything I’ve experienced before… Multiple explosions within just a span of a few minutes back-to-back.”

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on X: “The Security Council will convene tomorrow to discuss the situation in Gaza. It is time for the countries of the world to take seriously our unwavering commitment to bring back all our hostages home and defeat the enemy.”

He added: “Nothing will stop us from fighting to free our hostages who have been held in brutal Hamas captivity for 527 days. We will show no mercy against our enemies while our hostages languish in Hamas terror tunnels.”

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of “repeated refusal to release our hostages” and rejecting proposals from US president Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Hamas hit out at the Isreali leader “and his extremist government” for overturning the 19 January ceasefire and “exposing prisoners in Gaza to an unknown fate”.

This morning’s escalation of Gaza hostilities shattered a period of relative calm during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and deepened concerns about the fate of hostages still held in Gaza. Hamas accused Israel of violating the truce and putting the captives “at an unknown fate”.

Hamas also called on mediators to hold Israel “fully responsible for violating and overturning the agreement.”

Here is the full statement from the Israeli military regarding their strikes on Gaza overnight:

• “The IDF has launched a series of preemptive strikes targeting mid-ranking military commanders, leadership officials and terrorist infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation.
• ⁠The IDF is currently striking dozens of targets, based on Hamas readiness to execute terror attacks, build up force and re-arm.
• ⁠This preemptive offensive will continue as long as necessary, and will expand beyond air strikes.
• ⁠The IDF is prepared and spread out in all arenas, both in personnel manning the borders and the Aerial Defence Array.
• ⁠The IDF Chief of the General Staff is heading the operation, together with the Head of the ISA, from the command center in the Kirya.
• ⁠Following a situational assessment by the MoD and the IDF Chief of the General Staff, a decision has been made not to open up schools and educational activity in the Gaza Envelope. The IDF is in constant communication with the communities. Additionally, it was decided to halt the activity of the Sderot train route.
• ⁠We cannot elaborate further, so as not to hand out information to the enemy.
• ⁠The preemptive offensive plan was kept in closed circles in the IDF to create an element of surprise and deception.”

Israel has launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip that killed at least 200 people early on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian health authorities.