Israeli forces have intensified air and artillery bombardments across Gaza, striking multiple neighbourhoods in Gaza City and reducing residential blocks to rubble as the conflict enters yet another escalation. 

Thick plumes of smoke rose over the enclave as explosions echoed through densely populated districts.

Medical officials in Gaza reported at least 41 Palestinians killed in the latest wave of attacks. 

The overall toll since October 2023 has now surpassed 66,000 deaths, with more than 168,000 wounded. Thousands remain unaccounted for, feared buried beneath destroyed buildings.

The escalation comes just hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Washington has floated a new proposal aimed at halting the conflict, though details remain unclear.

Israel has vowed to continue its offensive until Hamas is dismantled, while Hamas has urged an immediate halt to strikes and temporary withdrawals to ensure the safety of hostages.

Entire neighbourhoods have been flattened, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced amid dwindling supplies of food, medicine, and water. Aid agencies warn that Gaza’s humanitarian collapse is worsening daily, with civilians bearing the brunt of the war.

The strikes underscore the high stakes of the upcoming Oval Office talks, where both sides face mounting international pressure to end the devastation.

Source: Al Jazeera 

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