Rising Casualties in Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Raids
In the latest escalation of violence in Gaza, medical sources reported that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 34 individuals, with the majority of casualties occurring in the central and southern regions of the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Health in Gaza has condemned the Israeli military's actions, stating that three separate attacks on families led to 48 deaths and 53 injuries in just the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll since the onset of hostilities on October 7, 2023, to a staggering 44,330, with over 104,933 individuals wounded.
The situation remains dire as the Israeli military continues its siege, particularly in northern Gaza. Reports indicate that an Israeli drone targeted the vicinity of Kamal Adwan Hospital, further exacerbating the already critical conditions for medical facilities in the area. In another incident, a drone strike in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood resulted in one death and multiple injuries.
Attacks on Medical Facilities and Civilian Areas
The violence has not spared educational institutions or medical facilities. Al-Awda Hospital reported injuries to four individuals, including two staff members, due to an Israeli drone dropping a sound bomb near its emergency department. The hospital has urgently called for international protection for healthcare facilities amid the ongoing attacks.
In the northern Gaza Strip, a residential apartment in the Al Majd building was targeted by artillery fire, although no injuries were reported. However, the situation for ambulances attempting to reach the Mufti area has been perilous, as they faced direct fire from Israeli forces while trying to retrieve bodies and assist the wounded.
In the southern region, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli bombardment near a displaced persons camp in Abasan al-Kabira, with casualties being transported to the European Hospital for treatment. In response to the ongoing military actions, the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, claimed responsibility for shelling Israeli positions in the northern Gaza Strip, indicating a continued cycle of violence in the region.
