Gaza city: The Israeli army has intensified its offensive in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of 43 more Palestinians on Thursday, according to medical sources and witnesses. This development comes as part of a broader strategy to fully reoccupy Gaza City, a plan approved by Israel's government earlier this year.
According to Anadolu Agency, the latest casualties include a variety of targeted attacks across the region. In Gaza City, an airstrike on a civilian gathering in the al-Rimal neighborhood resulted in one death and several injuries, while a child fell victim to an Israeli drone near the Ansar roundabout. Further strikes in the Shati refugee camp, al-Zeitoun, and the Sabra neighborhood claimed additional lives, including a woman killed in a family house attack.
The Al-Sarayya field hospital reported that five individuals were killed and 37 others injured in attacks targeting both eastern and western parts of Gaza City. Witnesses have observed the Israeli army demolishing numerous homes in neighborhoods such as al-Sabra, Tel al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan, and al-Nasr.
The conflict has extended beyond Gaza City, with central Gaza experiencing a drone strike in the Abu Aref area near Deir al-Balah city, resulting in one fatality and several injuries. Additionally, a bombing in al-Mash'ala killed three individuals, and similar attacks in Wadi al-Salqa and Hikr al-Jami resulted in further casualties.
In the Bureij refugee camp, an airstrike claimed the lives of four brothers collecting firewood. Another attack near al-Rashid Street targeted displaced Palestinians, causing additional losses. In southern Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians awaiting humanitarian aid, killing 13 people, including a woman.
The violence has also affected areas such as al-Mawasi, where a food kitchen strike resulted in nine deaths, including a father, his four sons, and his grandson. Since October 2023, the Israeli military offensive has led to the deaths of over 66,200 Palestinians in Gaza, predominantly women and children. The ongoing bombardment has significantly deteriorated living conditions, rendering the enclave uninhabitable and exacerbating issues like starvation and disease.