Israeli Military Strikes Kill at Least 70 in Gaza, Palestinian Medics Say
At least 70 people have been killed in Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip over the past day, Palestinian medics said on Saturday. The strikes, which have been ongoing for 15 months, have killed at least 17 people in airstrikes on two houses in Gaza City, including women and children.
One of the strikes destroyed the home of the Al-Ghoula family in the early hours of the morning, killing 14 or 15 people who were staying in the house. Neighbors said most of the people killed were civilians, with no one involved in the resistance.
The Israeli military said the strike was carried out at a distance from aid trucks and did not affect the continued entrance of humanitarian aid. However, Palestinian medics said several children were among those killed, and people were still searching for survivors trapped under the rubble.
Another strike on a house in Gaza City killed five people later on Saturday, with at least 10 others feared trapped under the rubble. At least six other Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Jabalia in the north and near the central town of Deir Al-Balah.
The death toll since Friday now stands at 70, according to Palestinian health officials. A renewed push is underway to reach a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, with mediators launching a new ceasefire push to end the conflict.
The Israeli military said it had continued its operations this week in Beit Hanoun town in the northern edge of the enclave, where the army has been operating for three months, and had destroyed a military complex used by Hamas.
A video released by Hamas showed Israeli hostage Liri Albag, a soldier, urging Israel to do more to secure the hostages’ release. Albag’s family said the video had “torn our hearts to pieces” and called on Israel’s government and world leaders not to miss the opportunity to bring all remaining hostages back alive.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel continued to work tirelessly to bring the hostages home, and warned that anyone who harms the hostages would bear full responsibility for their actions.