At least 31 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded on Wednesday as Israeli forces continued relentless aerial and ground assaults across several areas of the Gaza Strip, according to medical sources.

The latest escalation of violence comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions and growing international concern over the scale of destruction and loss of life in the besieged enclave.

In one of the deadliest attacks of the day, Israeli warplanes targeted a gathering of displaced Palestinians near a food distribution center in the Wadi Gaza area of central Gaza. The airstrike killed at least four people and left others wounded. The victims were reportedly waiting for aid when the bombs fell.

Meanwhile, in Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, three Palestinians were killed and several others injured following an Israeli airstrike that hit a group of civilians. Eyewitnesses said the strike caused chaos in the area, where many families have already been displaced multiple times.

In the southern city of Rafah, two civilians were shot dead and dozens more wounded by Israeli gunfire near the Shakoush aid center, located north of the city. The area, once declared a "safe zone," has seen repeated targeting by Israeli forces in recent weeks despite the high concentration of displaced families.

Elsewhere, one Palestinian succumbed to injuries from an Israeli drone strike in the Umm Zohair area, southeast of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. In a separate incident, Israeli forces targeted the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing a man outside his home on Street 20, according to local reports.

Wednesday’s killings add to the staggering toll of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, more than 201,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded, the majority of them women and children, according to Gaza-based health officials. In addition, over 9,000 people remain missing, most believed to be buried under rubble or trapped in inaccessible areas.

Hundreds of thousands have been forcibly displaced, with many living in makeshift shelters or surviving without access to clean water, food, or medical care.

Despite international appeals for a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid, attacks have continued with little sign of abatement. Human rights organizations have accused Israel of targeting civilians and infrastructure essential for survival, including aid distribution points, refugee shelters, and hospitals.

As the death toll climbs and entire neighborhoods are reduced to rubble, Palestinians in Gaza remain trapped under siege, facing one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in modern history. (ILKHA)