Israeli strike killed more than 250 people in Gaza, officials say Trump ends the Middle East Tour

According to local health officials, Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip killed 250 people in the past 36 hours, bringing the official death toll to more than 53,000, as President Donald Trump visited the Middle East and had little comment on Israel’s intensified war on the enclave.

Trump said the United States will no longer give “speaks on how to live” as he focuses on speeches with billionaires’ American glory, luxury planes and handshakes.

Trump held a four-day tour in the region on Friday, which included stops in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but not Israel, but all blockade of ceasefire negotiations or Israel’s aid to enter Gaza. UN officials accuse Israel of using "hungry bargaining chips."

Community kitchens in Jabalia, northern Gaza on Thursday.jehad alshrafi / ap

Since March 2, Israel has brought all humanitarian aid, medical or commercial supplies into Gaza, and Israeli officials say it aims to put pressure on Hamas to release the rest of the hostages.

The air offensive has raised concerns about another ground invasion after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this month that he would order the army to step up operations and seize the entire avenue.

One of the Israeli missiles landed at the home of 11-year-old Ibrahim al-Banna in southern Gaza on Thursday night. Al-Banna's uncle, Abd Al-Banna, arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, whose body was wrapped in a green blanket. NBC News crew witnessed the boy's mother crying and saw his son's lifeless body on Gurney.

"Dear, my Abdu...you are my heart...I hope it's me, not you," she cried and hugged her son.

As his family lowered the shrouded body into a grave, his uncle leaned over and said, “When you meet God, tell him they left Gaza alone – no food, no water, no hope.”

In addition to refusing to discuss human rights with Middle Eastern officials, Trump's public statement on Gaza is limited to saying he wants Gaza to be a "free zone." He did not elaborate on details of such a proposal, but said Friday: "We are looking at Gaza. We will be taken care of. A lot of people are hungry."

Israeli intensified strikes against Gaza were paired with ongoing violence in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli troops intensified their raids and settlers’ violence soared.

Palestinians killed by Israeli air strikes at an Indonesian hospital in Gaza on Friday.Abdalhkem Abu Riash / Anadolu by Getty Images

The Israeli military killed five Palestinian militant groups Islamic Jihad on Thursday. Gaz died when she was born, although her children survived.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "shocked by the terrorist attack". Hamas praised it as a "hero".

Palestinian health officials said that since October 7, 2023, the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel has been killed and about 250 have been taken hostages since the Hamas-led terrorist attack in Gaza.