Israeli airstrikes in the central Gaza Strip have claimed the lives of at least 16 Palestinians in separate incidents, intensifying the ongoing conflict in the enclave.
In Deir el-Balah, five members of a single family, including children, were killed in a strike on a camp for displaced people during the early hours of Sunday as they slept.
“We woke up to a loud explosion in the middle of the night,” said eyewitness Mahmoud Fayad. “We ran towards the screams and found many civilians killed—an entire family wiped out: a man, his wife, and their children.”
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Dozens were injured in the attack, according to Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, who described the scene as exposing the vulnerability of displaced civilians seeking refuge in tents.
Later on Sunday, at least 11 people lost their lives when an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in al-Bureij camp. According to Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, the eastern section of the camp was hit without prior warning. “Bodies arrived at the al-Aqsa Hospital in pieces,” Abu Azzoum reported, adding that flour bags had to be used for body collection due to a shortage of coffins.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that since October of last year, over 44,708 Palestinians have been killed, and 106,050 injured in Israel’s ongoing military operations. Overnight drone strikes on residential areas in eastern Gaza City further added to the injuries, Mahmoud stated.
In northern Gaza, Israel’s siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya continues, with Palestinian health officials reporting heavy shelling that damaged critical infrastructure, including electricity and oxygen supplies, disrupting life-saving surgeries.
“The situation is dire,” said Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the hospital’s director, highlighting that patients in the intensive care unit and those awaiting surgery are at extreme risk. Israeli shelling has reportedly struck the hospital with approximately 100 tank shells and bombs, injuring several medical staff and patients.
Israeli forces are stationed about 500 meters (1,650 feet) from the hospital gate and have set up sniper positions, according to Mahmoud, who also reported a significant presence of drones monitoring the area.
The Israeli military has not commented on the incidents.
Israel has accused Hamas of using civilian facilities, including hospitals and schools, as operational bases throughout the 14-month war in Gaza, a claim Hamas vehemently denies, accusing Israel of indiscriminate attacks and widespread destruction.
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