Israeli army kills 26 Palestinians in Gaza in 24 hours

Gaza health authorities report rising death toll amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and shelling.

People inspect the damage in a residential area of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on April 7, 2025, following overnight Israeli airstrikes. Photo by Eyad Baba/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Tensions in the Gaza Strip continue to escalate as the Israeli army kills 26 Palestinians in Gaza in 24 hours, according to a statement released on Sunday, April 6, by Gaza-based health authorities. The recent surge in violence has intensified the humanitarian crisis already gripping the territory, with the number of casualties rising sharply in recent weeks.

The Gaza health ministry reported that 113 others were injured over the same 24-hour period, adding to the growing toll of those caught in the relentless Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling. These latest deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed since Israel resumed its full-scale assault on the Gaza Strip on March 18 to 1,335. The total number of injured now stands at 3,297, many of whom are in critical condition.

Since the outbreak of the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in early October 2023, the overall Palestinian death toll has reached a staggering 50,695. The figure underscores the immense scale of destruction and suffering that continues to unfold in one of the world’s most densely populated regions.

Intensified attacks across Gaza Strip

Local sources and eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as Israeli warplanes and artillery units launched attacks across both northern and southern areas of Gaza. Civilian homes, makeshift tents, and areas where people had gathered seeking shelter were among the primary targets. Rescue efforts have been hampered by the ongoing bombardment, with emergency crews struggling to reach the wounded and recover the dead.

Residents in Khan Younis and Rafah, two of the hardest-hit cities in the south, reported hearing explosions throughout the night. Many described feeling as though nowhere in Gaza was safe anymore.

"People are trying to survive in the open, in tents, in ruins," said a local paramedic in a voice message shared with international media. "We have run out of places to take the injured, and the hospitals are overwhelmed."

Retaliation and resistance

While the Israeli army has not commented on the most recent reports of casualties or airstrikes, the situation on the ground has shown no signs of de-escalation. In response to the continued Israeli offensive, the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, claimed on Sunday that it had successfully bombed an Israeli military vehicle in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, located east of Gaza City.

The group did not release further details, and the Israeli military has yet to respond to the claim. However, such retaliatory efforts underscore the continuing resistance by Palestinian militant groups despite overwhelming military pressure.

Mounting pressure in the West Bank

The ripple effect of the war in Gaza has also been felt across the occupied West Bank. Palestinian factions announced on Sunday that a large-scale rally would take place on Monday in cities and refugee camps throughout the West Bank. The demonstrations aim to protest Israel's military campaign in Gaza and call for international intervention to stop the bloodshed.

This planned mobilization follows a week of rising tensions in the West Bank, where sporadic clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian demonstrators have led to additional casualties. Rights groups warn that the situation could spiral further if no steps are taken toward a ceasefire or negotiations.

A deepening humanitarian catastrophe

With Gaza’s health system collapsing under the weight of nonstop airstrikes, international aid agencies are warning of a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe. Medical supplies are running out, clean water is scarce, and power outages are crippling hospital operations.

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have both called for safe humanitarian corridors to allow for the evacuation of the wounded and delivery of emergency aid. However, continued hostilities have made such operations nearly impossible to carry out safely.

“There are bodies in the streets. People are dying because they can't get to hospitals or because there is no medicine left to treat them,” said a spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, speaking from the Rafah border area. “This is not just a war zone—it is a graveyard for civilians.”

International response muted

Despite the rising toll, international diplomatic efforts remain sluggish. Calls for ceasefires and humanitarian pauses have been made by various governments and international organizations, but no concrete resolution has emerged.

Critics have pointed out that the lack of unified global action has emboldened continued military operations, while millions of civilians suffer the consequences. Human rights groups have called for independent investigations into potential violations of international law, including indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure.

The future uncertain

As the death toll continues to rise and Gaza remains under siege, questions about the future remain unanswered. With nearly 51,000 Palestinians already dead, the international community faces growing pressure to act, yet practical steps remain elusive.

For the people of Gaza, each day brings new grief, new fear, and little hope for relief. The grim reality, reflected in the latest news that the Israeli army kills 26 Palestinians in Gaza in 24 hours, shows no sign of abating.

And so, as rescue workers continue to pull victims from rubble, and as families bury loved ones, the region braces for yet another day of violence—waiting for a peace that remains painfully out of reach.