At least 55 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday, according to local medics. The bombings continued across the Gaza Strip, despite growing international demands for a ceasefire and urgent delivery of humanitarian aid.
Britain and EU Respond with Diplomatic Pressure
The United Kingdom suspended trade negotiations with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador. Officials condemned what they called “egregious policies” in both the West Bank and Gaza. Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top foreign policy official, called for a reassessment of the EU-Israel trade agreement, according to reports from Dutch news agency ANP.
Gaza Faces Ruin and Widespread Hunger
Now in its 20th month, the war has devastated Gaza. Food shortages are growing worse by the day. The conflict has also placed immense strain on Israel‘s foreign relations. Even its closest ally, the United States, appears increasingly critical. 
On Monday, Israel slightly eased its 11-week-long blockade. However, the United Nations stated that no humanitarian aid had yet reached those in need.
“We are being asked to offload supplies at the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing and reload them later,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. He explained that this process depends on Israeli approval for UN teams to enter from inside Gaza.
Four trucks of baby food were delivered on Monday. On Tuesday, a few dozen trucks carrying flour, medicine, nutrition supplies, and other essentials entered the territory. Israel’s military confirmed that 93 UN aid trucks had passed through Kerem Shalom after a full security inspection.
Ceasefire Talks Collapse Again
Ceasefire negotiations in Qatar appear to have stalled. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his senior negotiating team to return from Doha for consultations. The militant group Hamas accused Netanyahu of insincerity. “No genuine talks have occurred since last Saturday,” the group claimed.
During a tour of Gaza, Israel’s military chief announced expanded operations. He said forces would capture more territory and destroy Hamas’s infrastructure until the group is defeated.
More Civilian Casualties, Including Children
Israeli warplanes continued their strikes on Tuesday. Among the targets were two residential homes where 18 people, including children, were killed. A school sheltering displaced families was also hit.
On Monday, the military warned residents of Khan Younis to move toward the coast, signaling an “unprecedented attack.” However, the army gave no official comment after the strikes.
Israel has repeatedly claimed that Hamas hides weapons and fighters in civilian buildings. Hamas denies these allegations.
Heartbreaking Scenes in Gaza
In Gaza City, Reuters footage showed civilians digging through the rubble of a school in the Daraj neighborhood. Scattered belongings, burnt clothing, and a red teddy bear were found among the debris.
Nearby, at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, mourners prayed over bodies wrapped in white cloth before carrying them to burial.
“What wrong have we done? What crime did the children commit?” said Omar Ahel, who had taken shelter at the school. “By God, this is injustice.”
Local medics say that over 500 people have died in Israeli strikes over the last nine days.
International Sanctions and Growing Criticism
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told parliament he was “horrified” by Israel’s escalating attacks. He joined the leaders of France and Canada in calling again for a ceasefire.
The three countries had previously warned of “concrete actions” if Israel failed to halt its military campaign and allow aid deliveries.
Alongside halting trade talks, Britain announced sanctions on individuals and groups in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. These measures are in response to alleged violence against Palestinian residents.
Meanwhile, the EU prepared sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers, but one unnamed member state has so far blocked the move, said Kallas.
Israel Defends Its Strategy
“External pressure will not stop Israel from defending its existence,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Israel’s ground and air campaign has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. According to Gaza health authorities, over 53,000 people have died.
The offensive began after Hamas-led militants launched a deadly assault on Israeli border communities in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, based on Israeli figures.
Hunger Crisis Deepens
The hunger situation has grown more severe since Israel imposed a supply blockade on March 2. The UN estimates that 500 trucks of aid and commercial goods must enter Gaza daily to ease the crisis.
“There’s nothing left. The warehouses and distribution centers have been empty for weeks,” said Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the UN’s refugee agency UNRWA. Speaking from a warehouse in Jordan, she explained they had food for 200,000 people that could be delivered to Gaza in just a few hours.
