Israeli strikes kill 17 as ground troops push into northern Gaza

Early Friday, Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 17 people in the southern city of Khan Younis, many from a single family, according to medical personnel. Rescue efforts continued for hours afterward, with locals searching the wreckage of a three-story building. At least 16 more were injured, all reportedly related.

The strike followed a particularly deadly day, with Israeli attacks claiming the lives of over 100 Palestinians on Thursday. In the last two weeks, several hundred more have died as Israel intensifies military operations aimed at pressuring Hamas to release remaining hostages from the October 2023 attacks. As of Friday, Israeli forces began new ground incursions into northern Gaza, expanding their military presence to create what they describe as a broader security buffer zone.

Displacement and Blockade Pressures

Before these operations, the Israeli military had issued wide-ranging evacuation orders in northern Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that roughly 280,000 Palestinians have been displaced since the breakdown of the most recent ceasefire.

Israel has also enforced a strict blockade on food, fuel, and humanitarian aid for over a month, worsening the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli government maintains that sufficient aid entered Gaza during the previous truce, while rights organizations argue that the ongoing blockade constitutes collective punishment and violates international law.

Hamas has reiterated that it will not release its remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — unless there is a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal, and the release of additional Palestinian prisoners. The group has rejected demands to disarm or leave Gaza.

Expanding Conflict and Regional Strikes

In addition to the strikes in Gaza, Israel also targeted Hamas positions in Lebanon. One of the attacks reportedly killed senior Hamas official Hassan Farhat in Sidon. Israel accuses him of orchestrating cross-border attacks, including one in February 2024 that killed an Israeli soldier.

Meanwhile, Israeli ground troops have pushed deeper into the Netzarim corridor, increasing the territorial divide between northern and southern Gaza. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), March saw a dramatic spike in airstrikes, with over 300 such incidents recorded in the final 10 days of the month.

War’s Ongoing Toll

The war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters launched a deadly assault on southern Israel — killing approximately 1,200 people and kidnapping 251 — has since devastated the Gaza Strip. Israel says it has rescued eight hostages and recovered numerous bodies, while continuing to search for others.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children making up more than half of the casualties. The Israeli military claims it has eliminated roughly 20,000 Hamas militants but has not released supporting evidence.

The prolonged conflict has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced nearly 90 percent of its population, leaving the enclave in a state of unprecedented humanitarian and infrastructural collapse.