Over 62 Killed In Israeli Overnight Strikes In Gaza
At least 62 Palestinians were killed in a series of overnight Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, according to the Hamas-run civil defence agency.
The operation, which began around 2 am local time (12am GMT +1) on Thursday, reportedly hit 12 locations, with the heaviest toll in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Sky News.
Rescue workers say they recovered 56 bodies from Khan Younis alone, four from Beit Lahia in the north, and two from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
Among the dead were women, children, and an infant. One family, the 13-member Samour family, was entirely wiped out, the civil defence spokesperson said.
The overnight assault comes amid a continuing Israeli blockade that has severely restricted aid access to Gaza.
According to Sky News, multiple humanitarian organisations, food, water, and medical supplies are running dangerously low. The humanitarian situation is rapidly deteriorating, with children reported to be suffering from severe malnutrition and some hospitals now out of service following recent strikes.
The European Hospital in Khan Younis, previously providing critical care including neurosurgery and cancer treatment, was forced to shut down after being struck earlier in the week. The closure further strains Gaza’s already overwhelmed medical infrastructure.
Displacement rate has continued to increase, with the UN estimating 90% of Gaza’s population which is about 1.9 million people, are now been forced from their homes.
Meanwhile, more than 65 former Israeli hostages have urged the government to prioritise negotiations over continued military operations, to ensure that the remaining captives return home.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that military pressure is the key to securing their release.
Since the start of the war, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages, over 52,800 people have been killed in Gaza.
Over 62 Killed In Israeli Overnight Strikes In Gaza is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
