Israeli forces launch strikes up and down Gaza strip; hospital hit
Israeli forces launched deadly attacks up and down the Gaza Strip on Sunday, hitting a refugee camp in the north, a hospital in the south, and killing a teenage girl who had lost her leg in an earlier strike, according to Palestinian officials, media, and eyewitnesses. The Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza was targeted by Israeli strikes, resulting in the death of 90 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry spokesman confirmed. Additionally, a missile attack on a house belonging to the Shehab family claimed the lives of 24 people, including the son of Dawoud Shehab, spokesman of Hamas-ally Islamic Jihad.
Medics reported that dozens of people had been killed or wounded in the Shehab family home and nearby buildings, with mourners fearing a significant number of victims still buried beneath the rubble. In Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, 12 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded, while at least four people lost their lives due to an Israeli air strike on a house in Rafah, located in the south of the strip. Eyewitnesses described the sound of the explosion as as powerful as an earthquake, and local residents swiftly rushed to the building to rescue those trapped under the debris.
Amidst the ongoing violence, an Israeli tank shell hit the maternity building inside the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, leading to the tragic death of 13-year-old Dina Abu Mehsen. The young girl had already endured the loss of her father, mother, two siblings, and one of her legs during a previous shelling incident in the Al-Amal neighborhood of Khan Younis a few weeks prior. The Gaza health ministry estimated that around 19,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7 when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities, and captured 240 hostages in a surprise raid.
Hopes for a ceasefire and hostage releases were briefly raised when it was reported that Israel’s spy chief had spoken with the prime minister of Qatar, known for its mediation efforts in the past. Both Egypt and Hamas expressed openness to renewed ceasefire discussions and releases of hostages, although some disagreements persisted on the implementation process. In a positive development, the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza reopened, allowing aid trucks to deliver essential supplies, effectively doubling the amount of food and medicine reaching Gazans.
However, Israeli authorities remained resolute in their determination to continue their operations until Hamas, which has been in control of Gaza since 2006 and vows to eliminate Israel, is dismantled. The Israeli military emphasized its commitment to this objective. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed condolences for the loss of the Kuwaiti emir before heading to Israel for meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds.
(This story is auto-generated and has not been edited by our team of journalists.)
