Israeli airstrikes kill 32 in Gaza as hostilities escalate; hostage families protest in Tel Aviv

At least 32 Palestinians, including 12 children, were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza City on Saturday, according to health officials, as Israel intensified its military campaign against Hamas' last stronghold in the north of the territory.

Bodies of the victims were taken to Shifa Hospital, where medical staff confirmed the casualties. The Israeli military, which has ramped up attacks on high-rise buildings in Gaza City, claims such structures are being used by Hamas for surveillance and military coordination.

One strike in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood reportedly killed an entire family of 10, including a mother and her three children. Prominent local footballer Mohammed Ramez Sultan, who played for the Al-Helal Sporting Club, was also killed along with 14 members of his family, the Palestinian Football Association said.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the latest strikes, which come amid a broader effort to seize control of Gaza City, now seen as Hamas' final major base of operations.

Evacuation orders and humanitarian strain

Israel has continued to urge civilians to evacuate Gaza City and move south to what it calls “humanitarian zones.” Military spokesman Avichay Adraee said over 250,000 people have already fled the city. However, U.N. figures suggest a much lower number — approximately 100,000 — have relocated between mid-August and mid-September.

Many Palestinians remain trapped due to lack of transport, financial hardship, or repeated displacement. Aid agencies warn that the evacuation of hundreds of thousands under ongoing bombardment is worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis. Shelters in the south are overcrowded, and a U.N.-led effort to bring in 86,000 tents and emergency supplies has yet to receive Israeli clearance.

Seven more people, including children, reportedly died from hunger-related causes on Saturday, raising the death toll from malnutrition to at least 420 since the war began. Gaza’s Health Ministry says 145 of them were children.

Families of Israeli hostages demand action

In Tel Aviv, families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza staged fresh protests, urging the government to prioritize negotiations and halt the offensive. They expressed outrage over a recent Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar — an operation that reportedly failed and risked derailing talks.

“This was a spectacular failure,” said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the hostages. “Instead of targeting Hamas leaders, Netanyahu destroyed our hopes of bringing our loved ones home.”

The hostage families fear the ongoing bombardment could endanger the lives of the remaining captives. Of the 48 hostages believed to still be in Gaza, only about 20 are thought to be alive.

War toll and background

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a deadly assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking 251 hostages.

Israel’s response has been relentless, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting at least 64,803 Palestinians killed in the nearly year-long war. Nearly half of the casualties are believed to be women and children. Massive airstrikes have devastated major cities, and around 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced.

As the war grinds on, pressure is mounting on both sides — from families of hostages, humanitarian groups, and international actors — to halt the violence and resume meaningful negotiations.

SR