At least seven Palestinians were killed on Saturday morning in new Israeli airstrikes on several areas in the Gaza Strip. The latest attacks targeted homes in Khan Younis and the Nuseirat refugee camp, continuing a military operation that has lasted over 19 months.
According to reports from the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, a father, mother, and their two children were killed when their house in the Al-Amal neighborhood of western Khan Younis was hit by an Israeli airstrike. Rescue teams recovered the bodies from the rubble as nearby buildings were also damaged by the explosion.
In central Gaza, two more people were killed in another airstrike on the home of the Jouda family in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Several others were injured in the attack, and residents reported widespread damage to the area.
A third strike in the same camp killed one man and injured five more, including a one-month-old baby. The target of the airstrike was a house belonging to the Al-Majdalawi family. Locals said the blast was sudden, leaving many in the neighborhood in shock.
Artillery fire from the Israeli army also hit northern parts of Nuseirat on Saturday morning. Shelling continued for several hours, causing more panic among civilians trying to flee to safer areas.
These attacks add to the rising death toll in Gaza, where more than 53,800 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the conflict in October 2023. Most of those killed are women and children, according to health authorities in Gaza. Thousands more have been wounded or permanently disabled.
Israel says its offensive is aimed at eliminating Hamas, the group that controls Gaza. However, human rights organizations and several governments have condemned the scale of the attacks and the high number of civilian casualties.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The charges include war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the military campaign in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. The case was brought forward by South Africa and supported by other countries. Hearings on the matter are ongoing.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen. Hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies are running low, and many homes have been destroyed. Thousands of families are now living in makeshift shelters or sleeping outdoors.
Food, clean water, and electricity are scarce. Aid agencies report that it is becoming harder to reach people in need due to ongoing fighting and restrictions at border crossings.
International calls for a ceasefire have so far been ignored. The Israeli government has stated that military operations will continue until all threats from Hamas are removed. Peace negotiations have not made progress, and the violence shows no signs of stopping.
Many countries have expressed concern over the situation. Protests have taken place in cities across the Middle East and around the world. Some governments have taken diplomatic steps in response, including recalling ambassadors and halting defense cooperation with Israel.
The people of Gaza are facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed. Schools, hospitals, and places of worship have been hit in the conflict. Many survivors are dealing with trauma, loss, and fear as the fighting continues around them.
As international attention grows, the pressure on all parties to reach a ceasefire is increasing. However, without agreement or intervention, the suffering in Gaza is expected to continue. The civilian population remains caught in the middle of a deadly conflict with no clear end in sight.
