Palestinian health officials say Israeli strikes have killed at least 30 Palestinians in the southern city of Rafah over the past 24 hours. The Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital, which received the bodies, said Monday that 10 children and 11 women were among those killed. Palestinian health officials also say an Israeli airstrike on an apartment block in central Gaza killed at least 21 Palestinians from two extended families. The strike late Sunday killed 10 members of the Salman family and 11 members of the Buhesi family, according to hospital records. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah.
Quick Read
- Recent Strikes in Rafah: In the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes in Rafah have resulted in the deaths of at least 30 Palestinians, including 10 children and 11 women, as reported by the Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital.
- Population Movement: Rafah is currently sheltering approximately 1.4 million people, over half of Gaza’s population, many of whom have relocated due to ongoing conflict.
- Israel’s Ground Offensive: Despite international concerns, including from the United States, Israel plans to extend its ground offensive into Rafah, arguing that defeating Hamas necessitates this action. Hamas reportedly has significant military presence in Rafah.
- Humanitarian Concerns: The conflict has led to significant casualties, with over 32,000 Palestinians reported killed and a substantial portion of Gaza’s population facing severe humanitarian challenges.
- Hostage Situation: Following the initial attack by Hamas-led militants on October 7, around 100 hostages remain in captivity, with ongoing efforts for their release.
- Central Gaza Strike: An additional Israeli airstrike in central Gaza resulted in at least 21 deaths from two families, highlighting the ongoing civilian impact of the conflict.
- Civilian Casualties: The Israeli military’s operations in densely populated areas have led to high civilian casualties, with Gaza’s Health Ministry noting that women and children constitute a significant portion of the deceased.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israeli strikes kill 30 Palestinians in Rafah and another 21 in Central Gaza
Newslooks- RAFAH, Gaza Strip — (AP)
Palestinian health officials say Israeli strikes have killed at least 30 Palestinians in the southern city of Rafah over the past 24 hours. The Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital, which received the bodies, said Monday that 10 children and 11 women were among those killed.
Israel has vowed to expand its ground offensive to Rafah, which is now housing some 1.4 million people – more than half of Gaza’s population. Most have fled fighting elsewhere.
Israel ordered Palestinians to move south in the opening months of the war but has continued to carry out strikes in all parts of the territory, including Rafah.
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has urged Israel against launching a major operation in Rafah, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel says it cannot defeat Hamas without going into Rafah, where it says the group has four battalions composed of thousands of fighters.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 32,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, and driven a third of Gaza’s population to the brink of starvation. It was launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel, which killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Hamas-led militants also took around 250 people hostage. It is still holding around 100 hostages, and the remains of around 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE KILLS AT LEAST 21 IN CENTRAL GAZA, PALESTINIAN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinian health officials say an Israeli airstrike on an apartment block in central Gaza killed at least 21 Palestinians from two extended families.
The strike late Sunday killed 10 members of the Salman family and 11 members of the Buhesi family, according to hospital records. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies at the hospital in the central town of Deir al-Balah.
The Israeli military says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames civilian casualties on Hamas because the militants fight in dense, residential neighborhoods. But the military rarely comments on individual strikes, which often kill women and children.
The war broke out on Oct. 7. when militants from Gaza stormed into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 250 hostage.
In response, Israel launched one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history. Gaza’s Health Ministry says over 32,000 Palestinians have been killed. It does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties but says women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed.
