At least 23 people, including three children, were killed across the Gaza Strip on Saturday following Israeli airstrikes and ground raids, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal confirmed the deaths, stating,
“At least 23 dead and dozens of wounded were taken to hospitals after Israeli firing and raids.”
Among the dead were three children killed when an airstrike hit a residential home in Jabalia, located in northern Gaza.
Video footage obtained by AFP from Gaza City showed grieving relatives mourning over the children’s bodies.
Bassal said the children were part of a group of 21 people killed in six separate airstrikes carried out by drones and warplanes across the territory.
Additionally, two other civilians reportedly died from Israeli fire while waiting for food aid in the Netzarim zone, located in central Gaza.
The Israeli military has not yet responded to requests for comment on the latest strikes.
Due to heavy restrictions on media access and movement within Gaza, international agencies like AFP are unable to independently verify the casualty figures or specific details provided by local officials and witnesses.
The conflict in Gaza escalated following Israel’s renewed focus on the region after concluding a brief but intense 12-day war with Iran, which ended in a ceasefire on June 24.
The Israeli military has since pledged to intensify operations in Gaza, where Palestinian militants are still holding Israeli hostages.
The broader conflict traces back to October 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel that left 1,219 people dead, mostly civilians, according to Israeli government figures cited by AFP.
In retaliation, Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza has so far resulted in the deaths of at least 56,412 people, also predominantly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, figures the United Nations deems credible.
Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with rights groups warning of famine-like conditions and civilians frequently killed while queuing for aid.
