Rescuers in Gaza have reported a devastating toll following a series of Israeli air strikes on Sunday, asserting that 22 individuals lost their lives and many more sustained injuries across the territory. The civil defense agency’s spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, detailed that seven of the fatalities occurred in Jabalia, located in the northern region, where a targeted air strike hit a residential home. Bassal noted the urgent challenge of ongoing rescue efforts, as some people remained trapped under the debris. He lamented that civil defense teams lacked the necessary search and heavy equipment to clear the rubble and assist the wounded, as well as recover those who have died.
In a particularly tragic incident, two additional fatalities were reported from an attack that struck tents accommodating displaced individuals near Nuseirat in central Gaza. Among the victims was a pregnant woman who was seven months along, with doctors regrettably stating they were unable to save her unborn child. The strikes also claimed the lives of Ashraf Abu Nar, the civil defense’s director of operations, and his wife, who were killed in an attack on their home in Nuseirat.
Further fatalities were recorded in other regions, including Deir el-Balah in the center of the territory and Khan Yunis in the south, highlighting the widespread devastation caused by the air strikes. Civil defense teams confirmed they had recovered “at least 22 martyrs,” which included several children, while also reporting numerous missing individuals. The Israeli army had not responded to inquiries regarding the air strikes at the time of reporting.
The military’s operations in Gaza have intensified recently, with officials characterizing their actions as a renewed offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas’s capabilities. On the preceding day, the Israeli military announced it had targeted over 100 sites across Gaza.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, the toll from the ongoing conflict has reached alarming proportions, with at least 3,785 deaths reported since the collapse of a ceasefire on March 18. This grim statistic brings the total casualties of the war to an overwhelming 53,939, predominantly comprising civilians. The conflict was reignited following Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,218 fatalities, again primarily among civilians. The militants have also taken 251 hostages during this time, with 57 of them remaining in Gaza, including 34 that the Israeli military reports are now deceased.
