Israel intensifies assaults in Gaza amid US push for ceasefire

Palestinians in North Gaza experienced one of the harshest assaults by Israel, while Israel and the US renew efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire, France 24 via Reuters reported on June 30th.

After US President Donald Trump urged that the 20-month conflict stop, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close advisor visits the White House for talks on a Gaza ceasefire and other possible accords concerning the area.

However, in Gaza, Israeli forces continue to carry out assaults. Salah, a father from Gaza City, stated: “Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes.”

Israeli tanks advanced into the eastern parts of the Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City and fired on several locations in the north, while aircraft targeted at least four schools after commanding hundreds of families taking refuge inside to evacuate, according to residents.

Health officials reported that Israeli strikes on June 30th killed at least 25 people, including 10 in Zeitoun. The Gaza health ministry stated that Israel’s military offensive has caused the deaths of over 56,000 Palestinians, most of whom were civilians.

The conflict has displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million residents and pushed the area into a humanitarian emergency. According to the United Nations, Israeli forces now control over 80% of the region as a militarised zone or under displacement orders.

On June 24th, Israeli troops killed 71 Palestinians in Gaza, such as 50 aid seekers, Maghrebi via Middle East Eye reported.

Furthermore, on June 23rd, Israeli forces struck various locations across Gaza, killing at least 21 Palestinians, including in places where Palestinians had gathered for aid, according to Middle East Eye via Wafa news agency. The air raids also struck a residence in Jabalia al-Balad, killing four individuals and injuring others.

France 24 via Reuters, Maghrebi.org, Middle East Eye, Wafa