At least 70 people have been killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including 22 children, according to health officials in the Palestinian enclave. The latest wave of attacks has intensified an already dire humanitarian crisis as Israel continues its military campaign against Hamas in the densely populated coastal strip.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported the fatalities on Monday, emphasizing that many of the victims were civilians caught in residential neighborhoods. Local hospitals, already overwhelmed by months of ongoing conflict, are struggling to manage the influx of injured patients amid critical shortages of medical supplies, electricity, and clean water.
According to eyewitnesses, several airstrikes hit homes in the central and southern parts of Gaza, including Rafah and Khan Younis, areas where thousands of displaced residents have taken refuge in makeshift shelters. The Israeli military claimed the strikes targeted Hamas operatives and infrastructure but has not yet commented on the reported civilian deaths.
Footage circulating on social media shows widespread destruction—entire apartment blocks reduced to rubble, smoke billowing from crowded urban areas, and rescue teams searching frantically through the debris for survivors. The scenes have sparked international concern and renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire.
This latest escalation comes amid an ongoing ground offensive by Israeli forces, which began in late 2023 following Hamas’s cross-border attacks. Israel has maintained that its military operations are necessary to dismantle the militant group’s network of tunnels and weapons stockpiles. However, critics argue that the heavy bombardments are causing disproportionate harm to Gaza’s civilian population.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the high civilian toll, reiterating appeals for restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law. Human rights organizations have also voiced alarm over the growing number of children killed in the conflict, describing the situation as catastrophic.
Over 34,000 people have reportedly died in Gaza since the war began, with more than 70% of them identified as women and children, according to local authorities. With access to food, clean water, and medical care severely restricted, the United Nations warns that the humanitarian crisis is nearing collapse.
International efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed, despite mediation attempts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. Tensions remain high as both sides exchange blame, and the prospects for peace appear increasingly remote.
As the world watches the Gaza crisis unfold, the demand for accountability and protection of civilians continues to grow louder. The latest deadly airstrikes only underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Source : Swifteradio.com
