Photo by Mohammed Abubakr
Israeli airstrikes carried out overnight and continuing into Sunday have resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals in the Gaza Strip, most of them women and children, according to statements issued by local health officials.
Two of the airstrikes struck tents located in the southern city of Khan Younis, with each of these attacks killing two children and both of their parents, as reported by Nasser Hospital. The hospital also received the bodies of additional victims killed in other strikes, including a child and a man who had been riding a bicycle at the time of the attack.
The Israeli military has consistently claimed that it directs its attacks exclusively at militant targets and takes extensive measures to avoid harming civilians during its operations. It places blame for the high number of civilian deaths on Hamas, stating that the militant group operates from within densely populated residential areas, thereby endangering the lives of civilians. As of the time of reporting, the Israeli military has not issued any immediate statement regarding the most recent airstrikes.
Israel has completely sealed off the Gaza Strip, cutting off all imports, including those of food, medicine, and emergency shelter supplies. This blockade has been in place for more than ten consecutive weeks and is described by Israeli authorities as a tactic designed to increase pressure on Hamas in an effort to compel the group to release Israeli hostages. The Israeli military resumed its full-scale offensive in March, effectively ending a ceasefire agreement that had previously enabled the release of over 30 hostages through negotiated deals.
Humanitarian organizations operating in the region have warned that supplies of food are rapidly dwindling and that hunger is becoming increasingly widespread across Gaza, with conditions continuing to deteriorate.
Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump, whose administration has offered unwavering support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, is expected to begin a diplomatic tour of the Middle East this week. His itinerary includes visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Notably, the president’s trip will not include a stop in Israel.
The current war began on October 7, 2023, when militants led by Hamas launched a coordinated assault on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducting 251 others. According to Israeli sources, 59 hostages are still being held inside the Gaza Strip, with roughly one-third of them believed to still be alive. The majority of the other hostages have been released through ceasefire agreements or other forms of negotiated exchanges.
Since the beginning of Israel’s offensive, Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported that over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed, with most of the victims being women and children. The ministry does not provide a breakdown distinguishing between civilian and combatant deaths. The Israeli military campaign has caused widespread destruction across the Gaza Strip and has displaced approximately 90% of the region’s total population of about two million people, leaving the majority homeless and dependent on limited aid.
