Israeli military strikes killed at least 50 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, local health authorities said, in a significant escalation of the bombardment as U.S. President Donald Trump continued his visit to the Middle East.

Medics said most of the dead, including women and children, resulted from a barrage of Israeli airstrikes that targeted several houses in the Jabalia area in northern Gaza.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment and said it was trying to verify the reports.

Israeli press reports on Wednesday cited security officials as saying they believed Hamas military leader Mohammad Sinwar and other senior officials had been killed in a strike on Tuesday on what the Israeli military described as a command and control bunker under the European Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis.

There was no confirmation either from the Israeli military or Hamas. On Wednesday, witnesses and medics said an Israeli airstrike hit a bulldozer that approached the area of the strike at the European Hospital, wounding several people.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week promised Israeli forces would soon enter Gaza with "full force" to finish off Hamas. Thousands of Israeli reservists had been called up in recent weeks.

Late on Tuesday, Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed militant group in Gaza allied with Hamas, fired rockets toward Israel. Shortly before the Israeli strikes began in response, the military issued evacuation orders to residents in the area of Jabalia and nearby Beit Lahiya.

Fears of famine from WHO

The Israeli escalation came against Palestinian hopes that the Trump visit might provide pressure for a de-escalation of violence. Hamas on Monday released Edan Alexander, the last known living American hostage, ahead of Trump's trip.

Speaking in Riyadh on Tuesday, Trump said more hostages would follow Alexander and added that the people of Gaza deserved a better future.

WATCH l Emotional reunions for returned hostage Edan Alexander:

Hamas frees American Israeli hostage ahead of Trump’s Middle East trip

Hamas has freed Edan Alexander, believed to be the last living American hostage, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East, raising hopes of a new ceasefire deal. The trip starts in Saudi Arabia with stops in Qatar and the U.A.E. Trump is skipping Israel this time.

Efforts to agree a ceasefire have faltered in recent weeks, with Hamas and Israel exchanging blame. Hamas talked to the United States and Egyptian and Qatari mediators to arrange the release of Alexander, and Israel has sent a team to Doha to begin a new round of talks.

On Tuesday, Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Adam Boehler met hostage families in Tel Aviv and said they could now see a better chance of an agreement for their release following the deal over Alexander.

The U.S. has also presented a plan to reopen humanitarian aid deliveries in Gaza using private contractors. Israel, which imposed a total blockade of supplies going into Gaza from March 2, has endorsed the plan. But it has been rejected by the United Nations and international aid agencies and key details, including funding and donors, remain unclear.

WATCH l UN slams 'weaponization' of humanitarian aid:

Gaza’s population faces starvation and famine, WHO warns

The risk of famine and mass starvation is rising in Gaza, the World Health Organization warns. Palestinian health officials say dozens of children have died of malnutrition since March, the month Israel blocked all aid shipments.

Israel began its invasion of Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attack on communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed around 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, including several Canadian citizens. Israel said 251 people overall were taken as hostages into Gaza.

The Israeli campaign has killed more than 52,900 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and devastated the small coastal enclave. Its population of around 2.3 million people is on the brink of famine, according to aid groups and international agencies.