Israeli Airstrikes Intensify in Gaza, Dozens Reported Killed

Gaza City, May 22, 2025 — Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have escalated sharply across the Gaza Strip, leaving dozens dead and many more wounded, according to medical sources and local officials. The latest wave of attacks has targeted both northern and southern areas of the besieged territory, with particular devastation reported in camps and hospitals sheltering displaced civilians.

Heavy Casualties in Displacement Camps and Residential Areas

The Gaza Health Ministry reported a significant number of casualties following a strike on a displacement camp northwest of Rafah. Since Sunday, more than 25 Palestinians have been killed in attacks on displaced families in Al Mawasi, an area previously designated as a "humanitarian zone" by Israeli authorities. In total, local health officials say that at least 60 people were killed overnight and into Tuesday, with some sources reporting the toll as high as 85 in the most recent 24-hour period.

Airstrikes have struck residential homes, schools repurposed as shelters, and other civilian infrastructure. In northern Gaza, two separate strikes hit a family home and a school housing displaced families, resulting in at least 22 deaths, over half of whom were women and children. Additional attacks in the city of Ir al-Alah and the Nuseirat refugee camp killed 13 and 15 people respectively, while two assaults in Khan Younis accounted for 10 more fatalities.

Hospitals Targeted Amid Humanitarian Crisis

The European Hospital in Khan Younis, one of Gaza’s largest medical facilities, was struck for the third time in three days, according to the Health Ministry. The attack killed at least 28 people and wounded dozens more, severely damaging the hospital and forcing the evacuation of most of its 200 patients. Medical staff reported that the strikes disabled the hospital’s water supply, damaged critical infrastructure, and left bodies scattered throughout the complex, hampering recovery efforts.

This attack follows a pattern of repeated strikes on medical facilities, with the Nasser Hospital also hit earlier in the week. The World Health Organization and humanitarian agencies have warned that the health system in Gaza is near total collapse, with corridors overwhelmed by the injured and deceased.

Wider Impact and Regional Escalation

The violence is not confined to Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy was killed by Israeli forces, amid ongoing military operations that have displaced over 45,000 people from Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps since the launch of Israel’s "Iron Wall" offensive in January 2025.

The past week has seen more than 500 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to local health authorities, as Israeli forces continue their campaign despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid. The United Nations has reiterated that at least 500 aid trucks are needed daily to prevent famine, yet access remains severely restricted.

Israeli Military Response

The Israeli military has not issued immediate comments on the latest strikes, maintaining that its operations target Hamas militants and blaming the group for civilian casualties due to its activities in densely populated areas. Israeli officials have warned of further escalation unless Hamas surrenders and releases hostages.

International Reaction

International criticism of Israel’s actions has intensified, with calls for an immediate halt to the offensive and for humanitarian corridors to be established. Despite these appeals, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that military operations will continue until Israel’s objectives are met.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with more than 53,000 Palestinians reported killed since October 2023, a third of them children, and nearly half a million facing catastrophic hunger. Aid agencies warn that without immediate relief, the region could face famine conditions in the coming weeks.