Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens in Gaza as Trump Ends Middle East Tour
At least 50 Palestinians were killed early Friday in Israeli airstrikes across northern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency. As US President Donald Trump concluded his visit to the Middle East, which did not include a stop in Israel, Israeli strikes on Gaza have intensified.
The strikes—centered on the Jabaliya refugee camp and the town of Beit Lahiya—left bodies buried under rubble and sparked chaotic scenes at the Indonesian Hospital, where an Associated Press journalist counted 20 of the dead.
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The Israeli military has not commented on the strikes, which follow a pledge by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to escalate operations to destroy Hamas, the armed group that governs Gaza.
President Trump’s visit to the Middle East had raised hopes for a ceasefire or renewed humanitarian aid to Gaza. Instead, the war continues, with Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry reporting more than 53,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began in October 2023. That number, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, includes many women and children.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for nearly three months, cutting off food, fuel, and medicine. It says aid will not resume until it can control distribution to prevent Hamas from benefiting.
A US-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, announced plans to start aid deliveries by month’s end. But major international organizations, including the United Nations, have refused to participate, saying the proposed system does not meet humanitarian standards.
