Tensions in the Middle East: Escalation of Violence in the Gaza Strip

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and other military actions on Sunday, primarily in the northern Gaza Strip, according to medical staff and residents. These incidents occurred during attacks that also hit a school where desperate people sought refuge. In the bustling city of Gaza, at least 11 people were killed in three separate airstrikes, while the remaining fatalities were reported from the areas of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and the Jabalia refugee camp. The situation continues to escalate, as residents report that groups of houses in these regions were bombed and partially set on fire. Israeli troops have been present there for over two months. The situation was particularly dramatic in Beit Hanoun, where Israeli forces stormed a school belonging to the Khalil Aweida family and urged those seeking refuge there to move towards Gaza City. During this operation, some people were killed and numerous others injured, according to medical reports. Additionally, the military arrested many men without confirming the exact number of deaths. Meanwhile, Palestinians are increasing their accusations against Israel, claiming it is exacerbating demographic changes by attempting to convert northern peripheral areas into a buffer zone. Israel denies these accusations, emphasizing that the military operations target Hamas militants to prevent their regrouping. This escalation of violence has its origins when Hamas, a militant Palestinian group, invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting over 250 hostages to Gaza. In response, Israel conducted air, sea, and ground offensives that to date have claimed almost 45,000 lives, mostly civilians, and destroyed large parts of the Gaza Strip, with nearly the entire population displaced. Despite increasing efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to broker a ceasefire, a breakthrough in negotiations remains elusive.