At least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza on Thursday night, as U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his high-profile Middle East visit. The strikes, which targeted areas including the Jabalia refugee camp and Beit Lahiya, were among the deadliest in recent weeks and come amid intensifying military operations in the region.
According to Palestinian health officials, the victims were brought to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, where medical teams are already struggling with limited resources. An Associated Press journalist confirmed the number of bodies counted at the hospital. Local sources report that residential areas were hit, displacing dozens of families overnight.
The Israeli military has not issued an immediate statement on the latest strikes but has maintained that its operations target Hamas infrastructure and militants. However, civilian casualties continue to rise, drawing international concern.
President Trump, who did not visit Israel during his regional tour, addressed the ongoing Gaza conflict during a press conference in the United Arab Emirates. “A lot of people are starving in Gaza. We’re going to take action — big action,” he said, while reiterating his controversial proposal to transform Gaza into a business and tourism hub once the conflict ends.
Critics, including major humanitarian organizations and UN officials, argue that the Trump administration’s Gaza relief plan lacks transparency and violates basic humanitarian principles. The newly formed U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has yet to begin significant aid deliveries, raising doubts about its effectiveness and intentions.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. With food, medicine, and fuel in short supply due to ongoing blockades and infrastructure destruction, international aid agencies warn that the territory is on the brink of collapse. Calls for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access continue to grow louder from global leaders and human rights organizations.
As tensions escalate and casualties mount, the people of Gaza face an increasingly uncertain and perilous future, caught in the crossfire of geopolitical maneuvering and military conflict.
