Israeli Airstrikes Kill 81 in Gaza as Civilians Bury Dead With Bare Hands Amid Ceasefire Uncertainty
GAZA — At least 81 Palestinians were killed and over 400 injured within a 24-hour period as Israeli airstrikes hit multiple locations in the Gaza Strip, according to figures released Saturday by the Hamas-run health ministry.
Among the dead were children and families sheltering in tents near Palestine Stadium in Gaza City. Hospital staff at Al-Shifa and eyewitnesses reported that the area, crowded with displaced people, was struck Friday evening. At least 11 people died in that single attack.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation as civilians dug through sand and rubble using shovels and bare hands. “The area was packed with tents. Now the tents are buried,” Ahmed Qishawi told Reuters. “There were no fighters here, only civilians and children.”
Video footage reviewed and confirmed by the BBC shows residents and rescue workers searching for survivors without equipment.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it targeted “a suspicious individual who posed a threat” to Israeli troops in northern Gaza. In response to questions about civilian casualties, the military said it took “numerous steps to mitigate the risk” and claimed to be unaware of injuries beyond the person targeted.
The airstrikes come as ceasefire negotiations face new obstacles. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt have resumed efforts to restart talks between Israel and Hamas, following the collapse of a previous truce in March. That agreement never advanced beyond its first phase.
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that a deal could be reached “within the next week,” though Hamas officials say discussions remain deadlocked.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials continue military operations. On Saturday, the IDF confirmed it had killed Hakham Muhammad Issa al-Issa, described as a founding member of Hamas’s military wing. According to Israel, al-Issa played a direct role in planning the October 7, 2023 attacks that left 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 others taken hostage.
The conflict, which escalated after that assault, has since claimed more than 56,000 lives in Gaza, based on figures from the local health ministry.
Saturday’s bombings included a strike in the Tuffah neighborhood, which killed at least eight people, including five children. Witnesses say the victims had taken shelter at the nearby Jaffa School. “We didn’t harm anyone,” said Mohammed Haboub, whose father and nephews were killed. “We are civilians.”
In the al-Mawasi area, another strike reportedly killed a couple and their three children while they were asleep. “What did these children do?” asked Suad Abu Teima, the children’s grandmother.
The Palestinian health ministry said rescue workers were struggling to reach victims trapped under rubble due to blocked roads and ongoing bombardments.
While ceasefire calls grow louder including from protesters in Tel Aviv demanding the release of remaining Israeli hostages Israeli military activity in Gaza shows no signs of slowing down. The humanitarian toll continues to rise, with no concrete timeline for peace.
