Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and surrounding areas have killed at least 16 people, according to medical sources. The strikes are part of an expanding military campaign that Israel says is aimed at Hamas.
Local hospitals reported receiving dozens of wounded people after the latest bombardment. Three militants were among those killed, according to Israel’s military. However, it did not provide details on how they were identified.
In southern Gaza, the situation remains dire. A Red Cross spokesperson said 31 patients, most with gunshot wounds, were admitted to a field hospital in Rafah. Four of them were declared dead on arrival. Patients told medical staff they were shot while trying to reach food distribution sites.
Doctors in Khan Younis also reported dozens of injured Palestinians after Israeli forces opened fire near another aid distribution center. Many of the wounded were in critical condition with injuries to the upper body, health workers confirmed.
The war, now in its 11th month, began when Hamas fighters crossed into Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack killed around 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. Most of the hostages have since been released, though about 50 remain, including 20 believed to be alive.
Efforts toward a ceasefire remain uncertain. Hamas has agreed to a proposal that would include hostage releases, but Israel has demanded the return of all captives and Hamas’ surrender before accepting any deal.
Gaza’s health ministry says more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, most of them women and children. Israel disputes these figures, arguing that they include large numbers of combatants.
The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. On Thursday, officials in Gaza reported that four more people, including two children, had died of malnutrition and starvation. This brings the total number of such deaths to 317, including 121 children.
International agencies have raised alarms over food shortages, displacement, and the collapse of basic services. Israel has rejected claims of famine, even asking global monitors to withdraw recent assessments.
