DEIR EL-BALAH – Israeli airstrikes continued overnight into Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Among those killed were a mother and her two children when their tent was hit, according to local health authorities.
Israel resumed its offensive in March after ending a ceasefire, with the stated goal of dismantling Hamas and recovering the 58 hostages still held since the attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the conflict. For 2 1/2 months, Israel halted the importation of food, medicine, and fuel, only permitting limited aid to enter the area last week.
The Israeli government has expressed intentions to take complete control over Gaza and promote what it terms as the voluntary relocation of many of the 2 million Palestinians living there. This plan has faced strong opposition from Palestinians and is widely condemned by the international community, with experts warning it could breach international law.
The strike hit a tent housing displaced people in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, killing the mother, her two children and another relative, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
A strike in the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza killed at least five people, including two women and a child, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Additional strikes killed another five people, according to local hospitals.
Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths because it operates in densely populated areas. There was no immediate comment from the military on the latest strikes.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 people. They are still holding 58, around a third of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’s 19-month offensive has killed over 53,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says women and children make up most of the dead but does not provide figures for the number of civilians or combatants killed. The offensive has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of the territory’s population.
Separately, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Sunday.
The missile triggered air raid sirens in Jerusalem and other areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The Iran-backed Houthis have launched repeated missile attacks targeting Israel as well as international shipping in the Red Sea, portraying it as a response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Most of the targeted ships had no relation to Israel or the conflict.
The United States halted a punishing bombing campaign against the Houthis earlier this month, saying the rebels had pledged to stop attacking ships. That informal ceasefire did not include attacks on Israel.
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Magdy reported from Cairo.
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