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Friday, Feb 20, 2026
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Escalating Conflict: Israeli Air Strikes in Gaza Leave 18 Dead, Including Children and Police Officials
Amidst a Rising Toll, Strikes Hit Palestinian Humanitarian Zones, Compounding the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
On Thursday, Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip claimed the lives of at least 18 individuals, a toll that includes three children and two senior officers of the Hamas-led police force, according to Palestinian and hospital sources.
The attacks mark a significant escalation in a conflict that has seen thousands of deaths on both sides since its resurgence in 2023.
The strikes come as particularly contentious given they targeted a site in Muwasi, a humanitarian zone designated by Israeli authorities, where hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals have sought refuge from the ongoing violence.
This area, where a Palestinian tent was struck, is housing families trying to endure the harsh winter in makeshift shelters, compounding the crisis faced by the civilian population.
Another strike in central Gaza further deepened the losses, resulting in the deaths of at least eight Palestinians.
Those reportedly killed were members of local committees tasked with ensuring the safety of aid convoys, highlighting the growing dangers to humanitarian efforts.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed these deaths, a report further corroborated by an Associated Press journalist present at the site.
This latest surge in violence traces back to October 7, 2023, when militants led by Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel, claiming about 1,200 lives and abducting approximately 250 individuals.
The ramifications of this attack have only intensified, with Israel's counter-offensive killing more than 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza, as per local health officials.
These figures, which include a substantial number of women and children, blur the line between civilian casualties and combatants, underscoring the complexities and tragedies of modern warfare.
The Israeli military has yet to officially respond to the most recent strikes, maintaining a silence that leaves the international community grappling with the humanitarian implications of the escalating conflict.
As hostilities persist, the path toward peace seems as elusive as ever, casting a long shadow over efforts to resolve one of the world's most intractable conflicts.
The attacks mark a significant escalation in a conflict that has seen thousands of deaths on both sides since its resurgence in 2023.
The strikes come as particularly contentious given they targeted a site in Muwasi, a humanitarian zone designated by Israeli authorities, where hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals have sought refuge from the ongoing violence.
This area, where a Palestinian tent was struck, is housing families trying to endure the harsh winter in makeshift shelters, compounding the crisis faced by the civilian population.
Another strike in central Gaza further deepened the losses, resulting in the deaths of at least eight Palestinians.
Those reportedly killed were members of local committees tasked with ensuring the safety of aid convoys, highlighting the growing dangers to humanitarian efforts.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital confirmed these deaths, a report further corroborated by an Associated Press journalist present at the site.
This latest surge in violence traces back to October 7, 2023, when militants led by Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel, claiming about 1,200 lives and abducting approximately 250 individuals.
The ramifications of this attack have only intensified, with Israel's counter-offensive killing more than 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza, as per local health officials.
These figures, which include a substantial number of women and children, blur the line between civilian casualties and combatants, underscoring the complexities and tragedies of modern warfare.
The Israeli military has yet to officially respond to the most recent strikes, maintaining a silence that leaves the international community grappling with the humanitarian implications of the escalating conflict.
As hostilities persist, the path toward peace seems as elusive as ever, casting a long shadow over efforts to resolve one of the world's most intractable conflicts.
