At least 16 Palestinians were killed and dozens of buildings destroyed in renewed Israeli air and ground assaults on Gaza City, local health officials confirmed on Monday. The bombardment occurred simultaneously with the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, heightening tensions as regional diplomacy tries to keep pace with the rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis.
Escalation on the Ground: Destruction, Displacement, and Human Suffering
Witnesses report that two separate strikes hit Gaza City: one targeting two family homes and another hitting a makeshift tent sheltering displaced people. The attacks came amid intensive Israeli operations across eastern suburbs, with large swathes of neighbourhoods razed.
Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing as air and ground operations spread panic. Many were living in encampments established on open streets or in temporary shelters after previous displacements. The United Nations and multiple foreign governments have spoken out, calling the onslaught a forced mass displacement, warning that humanitarian conditions in zones to which civilians are directed remain dire. Food shortages, lack of shelter, and dangerously overcrowded facilities are widespread.
Residents describe a sense of desperation. Ghada, a 50‑year‑old mother of five from Sabra in Gaza City, said, “Do you know what is displacement? It is extracting the soul from your body, it is humiliation and another form of death.” She added that fleeing south offers no guarantee of safety.
According to figures cited by Palestinian authorities, since August 11—just after Netanyahu announced plans to seize control of Gaza City—some 350,000 people have been displaced. Over 1,600 residential buildings and approximately 13,000 tents are reported destroyed.
Rubio’s Diplomatic Visit and Regional Repercussions
Marco Rubio’s visit to Israel comes during an especially delicate moment: following Israel’s strike in Doha, Qatar, targeting Hamas leaders residing there, which drew sharp condemnation across the Arab and Islamic world. An emergency summit of Arab and Islamic states is underway in Qatar to address that attack and other recent escalations.
In Jerusalem, Rubio met with Prime Minister Netanyahu, tour included the Western Wall and adjacent archaeological sites — locations fraught with religious and political symbolism. Palestinians, including Hamas, condemned Rubio’s visit to these holy sites, calling it a provocation and accusing the U.S. of reinforcing bias in its support for Israeli actions.
Rubio has said his goals include discussing how Israel plans to finish its campaign in Gaza in a manner aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump’s objectives—particularly the release of hostages held by Hamas—and how recent strikes, including the one in Qatar, will affect diplomatic efforts.
Worsening Toll and International Alarm
The cumulative toll of the war grows ever more bleak: over 64,000 lives lost in Gaza since October 2023, massive destruction of infrastructure, widespread displacement, and worsening humanitarian conditions. Health authorities report children and women comprise a large share of the casualties.
International response remains divided. Arab states express anger over the Doha strike and call for accountability; some see current Israeli tactics as jeopardizing normalization efforts in the region. Palestinians on the ground, however, appear increasingly distrustful of diplomatic statements, seeing little change in their daily sufferings.
