Overnight Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinians in Gaza, including six members from a single household, as hostilities persist in escalating. The bombardments struck a displacement camp that Israel has classified as a ‘humanitarian’ area, as well as makeshift tents housing displaced persons in Khan Younis, leading rescue teams to swiftly respond to the aftermath.
Since Israel resumed extensive airstrikes on March 18th, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports at least 1,163 Palestinians have perished. In just the past 24 hours, nearly 100 individuals lost their lives, and three more bodies were retrieved from previous strikes, bringing the cumulative death count to 50,423 since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023.
The Israeli military has issued evacuation notices for residents in Shujaiya and the districts of al-Jadida, al-Turkman, Tasbeeh, and eastern Zeitoun, forewarning of impending military action. ‘The Israeli army is engaging with significant force in your regions to eliminate terrorist infrastructure,’ stated Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee on X. Residents were urged to relocate to ‘known shelters’ in western Gaza City, though the exact locations remain ambiguous. Previous evacuation directives have led residents to so-called ‘safe zones,’ many of which were subsequently targeted by Israeli forces.
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to worsen. The United Nations has reported that 142,000 individuals have been displaced since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18th, following a fragile ceasefire that had been effective since January. On Thursday alone, relentless Israeli assaults within the besieged enclave resulted in the deaths of at least 62 Palestinians, according to Al Jazeera and Palestinian media.
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In Gaza City’s Shujaiya district, Israeli fighter jets struck a family residence, claiming the lives of nine Palestinians. Additional airstrikes in al-Mawasi near Khan Younis and within the city itself caused numerous casualties, with tents sheltering displaced families among the targets. Gaza’s health ministry confirmed at least 97 deaths from Israeli assaults over the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in Rafah, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled the city in one of the most significant mass displacements of the conflict, as Israeli forces moved into its devastated areas. Israel has designated Rafah as part of a new ‘security zone’ it aims to control. ‘Rafah is no more, it is being obliterated,’ shared a father of seven who sought refuge in neighboring Khan Younis. ‘They are razing what remains of buildings and properties,’ he informed Reuters, requesting anonymity out of fear of repercussions.