At least 58 Palestinians have died following Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Thursday, according to three hospitals.
The bombardments hit several homes in the middle of the night, killing men, women and children as they slept.
On Tuesday, Israel resumed heavy shelling across Gaza, shattering a ceasefire that had halted the war and facilitated the release of more than two dozen hostages.
Israel said it pushed on with fighting because Hamas refused to sign a new proposal that contravenes their signed agreement.
On Tuesday alone, Israel killed more than 400 Palestinians – most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
There has been no report of Hamas’ response in terms of fired rockets or other attacks.
One of the strikes early Thursday hit the Abu Daqa family’s home in Abasan al-Kabira, a village just outside of Khan Younis near the border with Israel. It was inside an area the Israeli military ordered evacuated earlier this week, which is mostly in eastern Gaza.
On Wednesday, Israeli ground troops entered Gaza for the first time since the ceasefire took hold in January. It seized part of a corridor separating the northern third of the territory from the south.
Apart from the bombings, Israel has also cut off food supply, fuel and humanitarian aid to Gaza’s approximately 2 million Palestinians. It vowed to intensify its attacks until Hamas releases the 59 hostages it holds (35 of whom are believed dead), and gives up control of the territory to Israel.
Washington took credit for facilitating the ceasefire, saying it fully supports Israel’s onslaught.
