Israeli Air Strikes Kill 40 Displaced Gazans, Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

Israeli airstrikes on encampments for displaced Palestinians in Gaza killed at least 40 people, most of them women and children, with the worst incident occurring in Al-Mawasi, an area previously designated by Israel as a safe zone. Additional strikes in Beit Lahiya, Jabalia, and Gaza City raised the civilian death toll further, including entire families and those sheltering in schools. Survivors described the devastating scenes as tents erupted in flames, while Gaza's civil defence agency and NGOs warned that humanitarian aid to the region has collapsed amid ongoing hostilities and blockades. The Israeli military stated it was investigating the reports, claiming its targets were Hamas command centers, but local and international organizations highlighted the severe impact on civilians. Hamas accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon, pointing to the ongoing restrictions on essential supplies. The UN and aid agencies described the humanitarian situation as the most severe crisis since the war began, with half a million Palestinians displaced since the offensive resumed.