In a tragic development on Saturday, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli forces killed at least 23 people in the beleaguered territory. This latest round of violence included the deaths of three children, who lost their lives when an airstrike struck their home in Jabalia, located in northern Gaza.
Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal shared the grim news with AFP, highlighting that “at least 23 dead and dozens of wounded” were taken to hospitals following a series of Israeli attacks across Gaza. The drone and aerial strikes involved a total of six separate incidents, contributing to the high fatality count, with a staggering 21 individuals killed specifically in these airstrikes.
Visual reports from Gaza City depicted heart-wrenching scenes of family members grieving over the bodies of the children killed in Jabalia, underscoring the profound human toll of the ongoing conflict. In addition to the casualties from the airstrikes, Bassal mentioned that two others were killed while waiting for food aid in the Netzarim zone, situated in central Gaza.
While the Israeli military did not respond immediately to inquiries regarding the incidents, the longstanding restrictions on media access in Gaza make it difficult for independent parties, including AFP, to verify the details and casualty figures provided by local rescuers and witnesses.
This resurgence of violence comes on the heels of a broader Israeli offensive launched in October 2023, following a deadly attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas which left 1,219 people dead, predominantly civilians, according to Israeli official figures. Following a 12-day military campaign against Iran that concluded with a ceasefire on June 24, the Israeli military announced its intention to refocus efforts on Gaza, where they maintain that Palestinian militants continue to hold Israeli hostages.
The human cost of the conflict continues to escalate, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting that Israel’s retaliatory actions have claimed at least 56,412 lives—once again, predominantly civilians. These figures have been deemed reliable according to assessments by the United Nations, and they serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
