Escalation in Gaza: Israeli Strikes Claim Over 80 Lives Amid Ongoing Offensive

Sat Oct 18 2025 05:57:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a troubling escalation of conflict, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed over 80 Palestinians in Gaza, with many casualties among women and children. As Israeli forces advance deeper into Gaza City, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate for the displaced population.

The conflict in Gaza has intensified as Israeli military operations continue, resulting in significant casualties, including women and children. Local hospitals report over 80 deaths since the latest offensive began, with ongoing claims of Hamas' operational activities from civilian areas. The humanitarian situation remains dire, as many residents have been forced to flee under life-threatening conditions.

More than 80 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, most of them in Gaza City, local hospitals reported.

Among the fatalities were at least 20 individuals, including women and children, who perished during a strike on a building and tents sheltering displaced families near Firas market in Gaza City's central Daraj neighborhood. First responders reported a significant tragedy, with heavy bombing occurring while people were asleep.

The Israeli military maintained that its operations targeted Hamas fighters and that the number of casualties contradicted its internal information.

Israeli troops and tanks have continued their advance into the city, which is regarded as the last stronghold of Hamas. The military has stated that the ground offensive seeks to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas and to secure a decisive defeat of the group.

As conflict continues, hundreds of thousands of residents have fled Gaza's largest urban center, while many others remain trapped in dire humanitarian conditions, with health and essential services collapsing.

A separate announcement from US special envoy Steve Witkoff highlighted a peace proposal presented by President Donald Trump to Arab and Muslim leaders during a UN General Assembly meeting. The nature of the plan was not disclosed, but it aimed to address regional concerns.

Hospitals in Gaza City confirmed receiving more than 60 bodies by Wednesday afternoon, with a significant portion resulting from an Israeli attack on a warehouse sheltering displaced individuals. Video footage depicted the grim aftermath, as families mourned their lost loved ones amidst the rubble.

According to local sources, several residents reported that Israeli forces were blocking their evacuation attempts, leading to further tragedy. In one instance, a man detailed the loss of his sister who was shot while trying to escape.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir confirmed during a visit to Gaza City that operations focused on striking within the city to aid in the release of hostages and diminish Hamas’ presence. A warning was issued to residents, urging them to separate from Hamas to mitigate the ongoing violence.

The targeting of civilian areas and infrastructure has attracted criticism from various humanitarian organizations, which warn that the tactics may lead to permanent displacement of the population.

The violence escalated following a Hamas-led attack in October 2023 that killed around 1,200 individuals and resulted in dozens taken hostage by Hamas, leading to a severe military response that has already claimed many lives in Gaza.