GAZA CITY: More than 50 Palestinians, primarily women and children, were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to the Palestinian group Hamas. The attacks targeted areas designated as 'safe zones' and several residential homes.

According to Anadolu Agency, Hamas released a statement detailing that the strikes hit al-Mawasi, a designated safe zone in the southern city of Khan Younis, and residential areas in Jabalia, Gaza City in northern Gaza, and the central city of Deir al-Balah. The group described the attacks as an escalation in what it terms a "war of extermination" against civilians, labeling them as violations of international and humanitarian laws.

Hamas called for international intervention to halt what it describes as ongoing crimes that have persisted for over 15 months. Medical sources earlier reported numerous casualties resulting from the Israeli airstrikes across the region.

The recent violence comes despite a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire. The ongoing conflict has resulted in nearly 45,600 deaths, predominantly women and children, since a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

In a notable development, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants are for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza.