The Gaza civil defense agency reports that a series of Israeli airstrikes have claimed at least 28 lives, including children, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis amid the conflict.
Children Among Victims in Recent Israeli Strikes on Gaza
Children Among Victims in Recent Israeli Strikes on Gaza
Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip continue to cause civilian casualties, with rising numbers of children among the dead, according to local officials.
Within the latest escalation, a house in central Gaza was reportedly targeted, leading to at least 13 fatalities. Strikes extended to a school being used as a shelter for displaced families, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including four children. Humanitarian organizations have expressed grave concern as the violence intensifies.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the airstrikes are a response to Hamas's ongoing use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes, with claims that a Hamas command center was located at the Musa bin Nusair school in Gaza City. The IDF emphasized the need for strong actions against what it describes as terrorist organizations.
Amid these developments, the UN has issued urgent calls for an end to airstrikes near hospitals, with specific concerns raised about reports of attacks on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), urged for immediate protective measures for healthcare facilities, stating that attacks near medical centers pose grave threats to patients and healthcare providers.
In response to recent bombings, Pope Francis condemned the violence against civilians, particularly children, describing the situation as "utter cruelty." Witness accounts relayed the harrowing moments before the strikes, where the destructive blasts occurred while people were sleeping, leading to chaos and injuries among the displaced population.
Although the Palestinian groups reported being closer to a ceasefire agreement, the current humanitarian toll has been significant, with over 45,000 Palestinians reported dead since the beginning of the conflict following the unprecedented attack by Hamas that started the ongoing war on October 7, 2023. The implications of continued military engagement and the humanitarian impact remain a primary concern for international organizations and local officials.
