At least 82 people were killed across Gaza on Sunday, including 39 in Gaza City alone, in one of the deadliest days in recent weeks, as Israeli forces ramped up their military campaign. 

The intensified bombardment comes amid cautious optimism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be reached this week.

In Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, survivors described horrific scenes, with families trapped beneath collapsed buildings. 

Mahmoud al-Sheikh Salama, a resident, told Al Jazeera that a nighttime strike buried four families under rubble. “We managed to pull out two people alive after hours of digging… the rest were martyred,” he said.

Israeli airstrikes also hit multiple sites across the Strip, including a community kitchen in Deir el-Balah, killing three people. 

According to reporters on the ground, the scale and frequency of the latest wave of attacks resemble the early days of the war, evoking comparisons to the initial weeks of conflict that began in late 2023.

Tensions are especially high around humanitarian aid centers. At least nine people were reportedly killed by Israeli fire near distribution points operated by the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). 

The Netzarim Corridor, a critical aid route just south of Gaza City, was one flashpoint. Gaza’s Health Ministry claims that over 740 Palestinians have been killed at GHF-linked aid sites since late May.

The GHF condemned a grenade attack that wounded two American contractors Saturday and blamed Hamas. Gaza’s Government Media Office rejected the accusation, denying any involvement by Palestinian resistance groups.

As diplomatic efforts continue, the situation on the ground remains dire. Civilians face mounting casualties, hunger, and fear—awaiting either a breakthrough or more devastation.

Source: Al Jazeera 

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