In a significant escalation of conflict, Israel launched a series of air strikes on Gaza following one of the most substantial rocket barrages fired by Hamas in recent months. This retaliation was ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he made his way to Washington for discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to the Israeli military, out of approximately ten rockets that were launched from Gaza late Sunday, around half managed to penetrate Israeli territory, while the others were intercepted. A report from Israeli medical personnel indicated that one individual sustained injuries due to falling debris amid the chaos.

The situation escalated overnight, with the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reporting that at least 56 Palestinians lost their lives within a 24-hour period due to Israeli actions. Among the casualties was a Palestinian journalist, Helmi al-Faqaawi, who was killed during an air strike on a tent serving as a workspace for local media in Khan Younis. This air strike also injured nine other journalists, drawing widespread condemnation from the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), which labeled the attack a "barbaric massacre" and urged the United Nations to intervene against Israel's targeting of journalists and civilians.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they had targeted a Hamas member, Hassan Eslaih, who they accused of operating under the guise of journalism and being involved in the deadly October 7 attacks that sparked the current conflict. The IDF stated they were carrying out these operations to respond to Hamas's continued aggression, which included firing rockets in retaliation for what they described as Israeli "massacres" against Gaza civilians.

Israeli air strikes were reported throughout various locations in Gaza, concentrating on areas linked to the rocket assaults, while the IDF had previously ordered evacuations from several districts in Deir al-Balah in anticipation of severe retaliation. Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, a spokesperson for the IDF, reiterated the determination of Israeli forces to respond decisively to rocket fire.

In a broader diplomatic context, French President Emmanuel Macron convened meetings in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan's King Abdullah II, actively seeking to re-establish a ceasefire. During a joint press conference, Macron denounced the resumption of Israeli strikes and argued against Hamas's inclusion in any potential government for Gaza, promoting the Palestinian Authority as a more viable political entity to take control.

Netanyahu's discussions with President Trump are set to address the ongoing war as well as Israel's strategy to secure the release of the 59 hostages currently held by Hamas. The surge in violence began following Hamas's unprecedented assault on Israeli territory on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of numerous individuals.

As the conflict persists, the situation remains dire, with reports indicating over 50,750 Palestinian fatalities as a consequence of the ongoing Israeli military offensives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The humanitarian implications of this escalating violence continue to raise alarms from various international organizations, emphasizing the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the hostilities.