Palestinian health officials say Israeli warplanes struck a refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens. Sunday's strike came as Israel vowed to press on with its offensive to crush the territory’s Hamas rulers, despite U.S. appeals for a pause in fighting to get aid to civilians.

Arafat Abu Mashaia, who lives in the camp, said the Israeli airstrike flattened several multi-story homes where people forced out of other parts of Gaza were sheltering.

“It was a true massacre,” he said early Sunday while standing on the wreckage of destroyed homes. “All here are peaceful people. I challenge anyone who says there were resistance (fighters) here.”

Palestinian health officials say Israeli warplanes struck a refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least 40 people and wounding dozens. Sunday's strike came as Israel vowed to press on with its offensive to crush the territory’s Hamas rulers, despite U.S. appeals for a pause in fighting to get aid to civilians.

Arafat Abu Mashaia, who lives in the camp, said the Israeli airstrike flattened several multi-story homes where people forced out of other parts of Gaza were sheltering.

“It was a true massacre,” he said early Sunday while standing on the wreckage of destroyed homes. “All here are peaceful people. I challenge anyone who says there were resistance (fighters) here.”

“I visited a school, hosting thousands of displaced persons,” Lazzarini continued. “The place was overcrowded. The level of distress and the unsanitary living conditions were beyond comprehension. Everyone was asking for water and food. Instead of being at school to learn, children were asking for a sip of water and a loaf of bread. It was heartbreaking.”

“I visited a school, hosting thousands of displaced persons,” Lazzarini continued. “The place was overcrowded. The level of distress and the unsanitary living conditions were beyond comprehension. Everyone was asking for water and food. Instead of being at school to learn, children were asking for a sip of water and a loaf of bread. It was heartbreaking.”

The United Nations (U.N.) condemned a recent attack by Israel on a convoy of ambulances leaving a Gaza hospital. “I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al Shi…

The United Nations (U.N.) condemned a recent attack by Israel on a convoy of ambulances leaving a Gaza hospital. “I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al Shi…

Israeli military strikes killed multiple civilians at a U.N. shelter and hospital in the main combat zone in Gaza.

"The main goal of everyone right now is a cease-fire," Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told USA TODAY. "You can't do anything without a cease-fire − you can't do humanitarian aid, you can't treat the wounded, you can't even remove bodies until there's a cease-fire." "Nothing should get in the way of a humanitarian cease-fire."

A Belfast-born man speaks of his grief after his wife, mother and brother are killed in Gaza. "The exact day she [arrived] in my family's place they bombed the place," Mr El-Estal said. The bomb killed his mother and brother "immediately", he added. He continued that his uncle, and his uncle's two daughters - both doctors - were also killed in the blast, and both of Khalid's children were buried in rubble.

A Belfast-born man speaks of his grief after his wife, mother and brother are killed in Gaza. "The exact day she [arrived] in my family's place they bombed the place," Mr El-Estal said. The bomb killed his mother and brother "immediately", he added. He continued that his uncle, and his uncle's two daughters - both doctors - were also killed in the blast, and both of Khalid's children were buried in rubble.

Israel’s strike on the Jabalia refugee camp has led to more intense pushback from the Biden administration.

The Biden administration requested Israel detail the thinking and process behind the recent strike on the Jabalia Refugee Camp in Northern Gaza, according to a U.S. official, who like others was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations.

"The U.S. asked for an explanation of the first [attack] on Jabalia," said the official, adding that the conversation was in the context of "asking Israel to do more to avoid civilian casualties."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is warning Israel that it risks destroying an eventual possibility for peace unless it acts swiftly to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza for Palestinian civilians as it intensifies its war against Hamas.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is warning Israel that it risks destroying an eventual possibility for peace unless it acts swiftly to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza for Palestinian civilians as it intensifies its war against Hamas.

“No one is looking at us or the extent of this disaster or the crimes that we are experiencing in Gaza,” he said. Still holding his microphone, he slid off his flak jacket marked with the word PRESS and unstrapped his helmet.

“These protection jackets and helmets don't protect us,” he said, flinging the equipment to the ground. “Nothing protects journalists. ... We lose our lives for no reason.”

Palestinian health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza said Israel struck a convoy of ambulances on Friday that was to leave al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and head to the south of the enclave to evacuate injured people.

Palestinian health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza said Israel struck a convoy of ambulances on Friday that was to leave al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and head to the south of the enclave to evacuate injured people.

Concluding her post, the Academy Award winner called for a ceasefire, writing: "Palestinian and Israeli lives—and the lives of all people globally—matter equally." "Anything that can prevent civilian casualties and save lives most be done," she said.

Although some followers praised the Maleficent star for her statement, which had received more than 777,000 likes at time of publishing, others slammed Jolie for refusing to choose sides.

"How did you manage to say so much without saying anything at all?" said Marcelina Maria.

Concluding her post, the Academy Award winner called for a ceasefire, writing: "Palestinian and Israeli lives—and the lives of all people globally—matter equally." "Anything that can prevent civilian casualties and save lives most be done," she said.

Although some followers praised the Maleficent star for her statement, which had received more than 777,000 likes at time of publishing, others slammed Jolie for refusing to choose sides.

"How did you manage to say so much without saying anything at all?" said Marcelina Maria.

The letter posted on Israeli journalist Amit Segal channel to 184,000 followers says that "the nation of Israel will stand up bravery to strike at its enemies," according to a translation of the Hebrew. It goes on to justify targeting sites even "when the enemy hides behind a human shield."