26 Palestinians Killed As Israeli Airstrikes Target Aid Sites across Gaza
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Intensified Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed at least 26 Palestinians since Saturday morning, with attacks spanning from the north to the southern al-Mawasi “safe zone” area, where nine people lost their lives and numerous others were injured.
Medical officials at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis reported receiving the bodies of nine civilians killed when Israeli bombs struck tents sheltering displaced people in southern Gaza's al-Mawasi area.
In another attack, seven Palestinians were killed, and others injured, when airstrikes targeted the Fahd al-Sabah School on Yafa Street, east of Gaza City. The school had served as a shelter for displaced families, with casualties sent to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital for treatment.
In Beit Lahiya, located in northern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike on the Abu Jarad family home in Al-Manshiyya killed one person and left several others injured, medical sources confirmed.
An Israeli drone strike in the al-Bassa neighborhood of Deir el-Balah in central Gaza killed one person, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.
Palestinian media reported five deaths following an air attack in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighborhood, while four others died in a separate bombing at a warehouse distributing aid.
These attacks come as Israel’s month-long siege of northern Gaza leaves tens of thousands of residents trapped without food, water, or medical aid.
The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed concern over Gaza’s civilian casualties, noting that approximately 70% of Palestinians killed are women and children. The UN has verified personal details of thousands of casualties, calling for accountability for potential war crimes. The organization also warned of an imminent famine in northern Gaza, where over a thousand civilians have died due to the blockade.
Professor Mohamad Elmasry of the Doha Institute highlighted the UN report’s findings, emphasizing the disproportionate impact on Palestinian women and children. He cited Israel’s controversial 100:1 military policy, where strikes on populated areas proceed despite the risk of significant civilian casualties.
Elmasry noted the UN’s limited power to enforce immediate action, mentioning that the influence of the United States and Israel has historically weakened the UN’s ability to intervene effectively.
The conflict has reached a grim milestone, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting over 43,000 deaths since the Israeli military’s offensive began 13 months ago. The ministry reported an additional 44 fatalities in the past 24 hours, with over 102,000 people injured since the genocidal Israeli war escalated on October 7, 2023.
Global agencies, including the independent Famine Review Committee, warned that urgent measures are required to prevent famine in northern Gaza, where food and medicine are severely lacking. UN World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain called for immediate action to avert an "all-out catastrophe," while WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as "deeply alarming."
