At least 11 people, including three children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, according to Palestinian health officials. The strikes hit a residential block in the central district early this morning, sparking fires that trapped families inside their homes. Witnesses reported that the area had been previously designated as a safe zone by the Israeli military.
The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers search through the rubble. The attack comes as the British government intensifies diplomatic efforts to reopen a humanitarian corridor first established by UK mediators last year. Downing Street confirmed that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has held emergency talks with his Israeli counterpart, urging an immediate ceasefire to allow aid deliveries.
The proposed corridor would run from the Kerem Shalom crossing into northern Gaza, bypassing areas of heavy fighting. UK officials say the route could deliver 200 tonnes of food and medical supplies daily, but only if both sides agree to a temporary cessation of hostilities. “We are pressing for a limited pause to prevent a catastrophe,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said.
The strikes have drawn condemnation from aid groups, who warn that Gaza’s health system is on the brink of collapse. The UN reports that over 1.5 million people are now internally displaced, with many sheltering in overcrowded schools and hospitals. “Every hour of fighting pushes more families into hunger,” said Dr. Rania al-Abbasi, a physician at Al-Shifa Hospital, where casualties from today’s attack are being treated.
Israel’s military said it was targeting a Hamas command center embedded within the residential building, a claim Hamas denies. The IDF also accused Hamas of firing rockets from civilian areas, a tactic that has repeatedly led to civilian casualties in previous conflicts.
Britain’s push for a humanitarian corridor underscores the growing frustration in London over the stalled peace process. Critics argue that without a permanent ceasefire, any corridor would be a temporary sticking plaster. “This is not about aid, it’s about stopping the killing,” said a Labour party spokesperson, echoing calls from backbench MPs for an arms embargo on Israel.
As the death toll in Gaza passes 30,000, the international community remains divided. The US has urged restraint but blocked a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar and Egypt continue separate mediation efforts, but neither has secured a breakthrough.
For now, the families of those killed in Gaza City are left to mourn. Fatima al-Hourani, whose mother and sister died in today’s strike, said: “We were told to go here for safety. There is no safety anywhere.”
