Death toll mounts as Israeli jets, artillery pound Gaza City in north to Rafah in south
The Palestinian state news agency Wafa reports that dozens of people have been killed in attacks on Gaza, including local journalist Bahaa Okasha, who died along with his wife and son in an Israeli attack on their home in the Jabalia refugee camp.
Wafa reports that at least 10 people were killed and many injured, including children, in an Israeli bombardment of a house belonging to the al-Khatib family in central Gaza’s az-Zawayda town.
Israeli warplanes and artillery have also pounded central and eastern areas of southern Rafah city, which is reported to be now encircled by Israel’s military as a long-feared ground operation ramps up.
Casualties were also reported following Israeli attacks on Gaza City in the north, including on the home of the Siam family, located in the old town areas of the city. Al Jazeera Arabic has also reported three people killed and a number wounded in Gaza City’s Sabra and Zeitoun neighbourhoods.
Civil defence official accuses Israel of carrying out civilian ‘massacres’ in night attacks
A member of the Palestinian Civil Defence in northern Gaza has accused Israeli forces of “massacring” civilians in attacks on at least three homes in the Beit Lahiya and Jabalia refugee camp areas.
Director of Civil Defence in the north, Ahmed al-Kahlot, told our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic that rescue crews are still trying to retrieve people from beneath the rubble of the three homes that were destroyed in overnight bombings.
Wounded Palestinians are treated at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after an Israeli attack
Twenty killed overnight taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital
Today we woke up to the sound of bombardment. We continue to hear the buzzing of Israeli surveillance drones in Deir el-Balah, which is now the most densely populated area in the entire strip.
At least 20 Palestinians were killed in overnight strikes in the middle area, including in az-Zuwayda and al-Mughraqa, alongside the Bureij refugee camp. Eight of these victims are children and eight are women.
Since Israel’s invasion of Gaza, about 70 percent of the 34,904 people killed in the enclave have been children and women.
The victims have been brought to al-Aqsa Hospital. Their bodies are lined up on the ground, with their families surrounding them with deep sadness and frustration. At least five children are among those killed. I saw a man holding his child in his arms, prepared to bury him.
The situation in the middle area is completely critical. This is the place where Palestinians in Rafah have been told to seek refuge.
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