Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza and West Bank Result in Multiple Fatalities Amid Escalating Conflict

An Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced persons in Gaza City killed at least 15 Palestinians on Saturday, according to Hamas. The attack occurred in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood and targeted a school which, according to the Israeli military, was being used as a command center for Hamas militants to hide and manufacture weapons. Hamas has denied these accusations, maintaining that it does not operate from civilian facilities such as schools and hospitals.

Earlier the same day, Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed six people in a house in Rafah and two others in Gaza City, according to Gaza health officials. These strikes come amid an ongoing and intense conflict between Israel and Hamas, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

West Bank Strikes Kill Nine Militants, Including a Hamas Commander

In a separate but related series of events, two Israeli airstrikes in the occupied West Bank killed nine militants, including a local Hamas commander. The first strike hit a vehicle near Tulkarm, targeting a militant cell allegedly en route to carry out an attack. Among those killed was a commander of Hamas' Tulkarm brigades, while Islamic Jihad claimed the other four fatalities as its fighters.

Hours later, a second airstrike in the same area targeted another group of militants who had reportedly fired on Israeli troops during a counter-terrorism operation. Palestinian news agency WAFA reported four additional fatalities in this strike, all identified by Hamas as fighters.

Rising Violence and Humanitarian Concerns

The recent escalation in violence comes on top of already heightened tensions in the West Bank, which has seen frequent Israeli raids and an increase in anti-Israeli street attacks by Palestinians. This surge in violence predates the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and has intensified in recent weeks, complicating efforts towards peace and stability in the region.

As the conflict continues, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank remains dire, with international calls for de-escalation and aid for the affected civilians growing increasingly urgent.