An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the Shujaiya district of Gaza City on Wednesday has claimed the lives of at least 20 people, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. Over 40 others were injured in the attack, with search operations ongoing to recover more victims from the rubble.

Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defence, confirmed the casualties, stating that the bombing left “20 martyrs and more than 40 injured.” Emergency teams are still combing through the debris in search of more survivors.

The strike marks the latest in a series of Israeli operations that resumed on March 18, following a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. Since then, Israel has intensified its military actions, and efforts to broker a new truce have thus far been unsuccessful.

The Hamas-run health ministry reported on Wednesday that the death toll in Gaza since the resumption of Israeli airstrikes now stands at 1,482. The overall death toll from the conflict, which began following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, has now exceeded 50,000, a grim milestone in the ongoing violence.

Meanwhile, Hossam Badran, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, reiterated calls for a ceasefire. “Communication with the mediators is still ongoing,” he said, though he acknowledged that “no new proposals have been made so far.” Badran emphasized that Hamas remains open to negotiations that would lead to a ceasefire and halt the ongoing violence against Palestinians.

The conflict, which has resulted in devastating losses on both sides, shows no signs of easing, as Israel and Hamas remain entrenched in their positions despite international calls for peace.