Israeli airstrikes and tank shelling in Gaza City on Sunday resulted in the deaths of six Palestinians, including two young girls. This marked one of the deadliest incidents in Gaza since the recent escalation of conflict following the U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran. Health officials reported that these strikes occurred in two separate attacks, leading to significant casualties.
According to Mohamed Abu Selmia, the head of Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, three men were killed near Al-Azhar University. Among the deceased was a paramedic, Mohammad Hamduna, along with two others identified as Mohammad Abu Shedeq and Ahmed Lafi. The airstrike targeted an area close to crowded tent camps housing displaced Gazans, resulting in several injuries, as confirmed by medical personnel.
Despite a decrease in attacks since the onset of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, reports indicate that Israeli forces have continued to kill Palestinians throughout the past week. The Israeli military stated that the strike aimed to eliminate two members of Hamas, claiming they were preparing to launch an attack against Israeli soldiers. However, no evidence was provided to support this assertion, and no militant group has acknowledged the deceased individuals as their members.
A little after midnight, Israeli tank shelling in the central Gaza Strip also claimed lives, killing at least three people, including two girls, and injuring ten others, several of whom were children. This incident occurred at a tent encampment in the western area of Nuseirat, which is currently sheltering displaced families. Health officials from Al-Awda Hospital reported the casualties from this attack.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the region suffering from the aftermath of over two years of conflict that has displaced much of its population of over two million. The ongoing violence continues to disrupt daily life and complicate humanitarian efforts.
The Israeli military did not provide any immediate comments regarding the tank shelling incident. Although a ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. was established last October, violations of this truce have been frequent, with both sides accusing each other of transgressions. According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 640 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli fire since October, while Israel reports that four soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza during the same timeframe.
The conflict escalated dramatically following a significant attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the taking of over 250 hostages. Local health authorities in Gaza have reported that more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed due to ongoing hostilities, leaving large parts of the enclave in ruins and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains watchful, calling for a resolution to the violence that has devastated countless lives in the region.
