Israeli Airstrikes Kill 26 in Gaza, Displace Thousands

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, including a hit on a police station in Jabalia, killed at least 26 people on Thursday, with medics reporting dozens wounded and the Israeli military stating it targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad command centers. Additional Israeli bombings struck civilian shelters and hospitals, resulting in further deaths and injuries, as well as damage to critical infrastructure and rescue equipment. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 51,300 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, with Gaza health authorities highlighting that many of the casualties are civilians and that hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The Israeli military accuses Palestinian militant groups of using civilian sites for military purposes, a claim denied by Hamas, while efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States to broker a ceasefire have so far failed. Amid the violence, Hamas is calling for global protests and strikes to pressure for an end to Israel's assault and the lifting of the ongoing siege, which UN officials describe as creating a humanitarian crisis and collective punishment for Gaza's population. The United Nations has warned that humanitarian aid is being blocked as food and medicine supplies dwindle, urging immediate action to alleviate the suffering.