Gaza’s medical officials report that at least 72 individuals were killed in Israeli operations across the territory within the past 24 hours, although outages in communication networks in northern Gaza may mean the actual toll is higher.
In Khan Younis, in central Gaza, 38 people lost their lives, including 13 children from the same family. The early Friday airstrikes hit a residential area, causing residents to search through debris for belongings. Saleh al-Farra, who lost two siblings, recounted how his family had sought safety in the building’s center before it collapsed, leaving him unconscious.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes, asserting they targeted Palestinian gunmen through both air and ground attacks.
Northern Gaza has also seen intensified attacks since October 6, where disrupted phone and internet services have clouded details of recent strikes, particularly in the Jabaliya refugee camp. An Al Jazeera journalist reported that 150 people were either killed or injured following airstrikes that flattened several buildings, with minimal reports from health officials due to the presence of Israeli forces.
Gaza’s hospitals, particularly in the north, are struggling to function under severe shortages of supplies and a near-complete blockade. Kamal Adwan Hospital, which received a raid from Israeli forces due to suspected Hamas activity, is overwhelmed, with its director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, warning of imminent patient deaths without critical aid. Despite some reports of fuel deliveries, other sources, including the World Health Organization, noted that staff have since lost contact with the facility.
The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Türk, voiced grave concerns over the situation, describing it as the conflict's "darkest moment" and warning of potential atrocity crimes. He urged the international community to intervene to uphold humanitarian laws.
Efforts for a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, which intensified following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, are expected to resume next week. However, a 12-day pause rather than a long-term truce is under current negotiation, according to diplomats.
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