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

Tue Oct 21 2025 07:14:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant escalation of hostilities, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 Palestinians, with many casualties among women and children, as military operations expand in the region.

Israeli military operations in Gaza City have intensified as airstrikes reportedly killed over 80 Palestinians, including women and children. Local hospitals reported that a significant number of fatalities occurred in a strike that targeted a shelter for displaced families. Amidst the violence, Israeli forces maintain that their actions target Hamas fighters, creating dire humanitarian conditions for residents in the area. Hundreds of thousands have fled while the international community calls for attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding amidst the conflict.

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

Women and children were among at least 20 who died when a strike hit a building and tents sheltering displaced families near Firas market in Gaza City's central Daraj neighbourhood overnight, according to first responders.

The Israeli military stated that it struck two Hamas fighters and claimed that the number of casualties did not align with its own information.

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and troops continued their advance into the heart of the city, which the Israeli government says is the last stronghold of Hamas.

The military has stated that the ongoing ground offensive aims to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and to ensure the group's decisive defeat.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have fled Gaza's biggest urban centre amid a confirmed famine, as health and essential services face collapse.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned that President Donald Trump presented a '21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza' during a recent meeting with Arab and Muslim leaders, which has raised hopes for a potential breakthrough.

Reports from Gaza City indicate that over 60 bodies due to Israeli strikes were received by hospitals as of Wednesday afternoon. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency noted that a significant portion of these fatalities resulted from a strike on a warehouse sheltering displaced individuals.

International journalists have faced restrictions on coverage from Gaza, complicating attempts to verify casualty reports, but eyewitness accounts depict scenes of devastation and loss.

Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, IDF Chief of Staff, confirmed that operations are focused on Gaza City and urged residents to break away from Hamas to alleviate suffering.

As the conflict progresses, humanitarian concerns grow, with warnings from the UN about increasing civilian casualties and the looming threat of permanent displacement for residents.