At least 120 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past two days, Palestinian health officials reported, as Israel intensified its bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip.
The latest wave of airstrikes and ground assaults has left significant destruction across Gaza, with hospitals and residential areas among the hardest hit.
The Israeli air raids continued relentlessly, with at least seven people killed when a residential home was struck in Gaza City's Zeitoun suburb overnight. Further casualties were reported across central and southern Gaza, as the death toll rose from the ongoing attacks.
One of the most devastating attacks occurred in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where the al-Faruq Mosque was severely damaged. A social media video verified by Al Jazeera showed the extent of the damage, adding to the growing list of cultural and civilian infrastructure destroyed in the ongoing conflict.
Israeli forces also intensified their ground offensive in northern Gaza, where they targeted one of the last remaining partially functional hospitals, Kamal Adwan Hospital, leading to the wounding of several healthcare workers. Hussam Abu Safia, the hospital’s director, described the attack, saying Israeli forces "directly targeted the entrance to the emergency and reception areas, as well as the hospital courtyards, electrical generators, and gates." This assault resulted in 12 injuries among doctors, nurses, and administrative staff.
The Israeli military has denied targeting the hospital, stating that it was not aware of any strike in the area following an initial review. However, the attack has raised concerns about the safety of medical facilities, with Gaza’s Ministry of Health warning that hospitals may soon face severe restrictions on services due to limited fuel supplies. According to the Ministry, fuel reserves are expected to last only another two days.
Since October 2023, Israel's military campaign against Gaza has resulted in more than 44,000 deaths and left over 104,000 people injured. The operation began following a series of deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, which left at least 1,139 Israelis dead and around 250 others taken hostage.
Humanitarian organizations have raised alarms over the worsening situation in Gaza, particularly in northern parts of the enclave, where supplies of food, water, and medical aid have been nearly cut off. The United Nations has warned that a famine could soon take hold in the region if conditions do not improve.
On Saturday, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to take "steps to improve the dire humanitarian condition in Gaza" during a phone call, as international pressure grows for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the region.
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