Tragedy in Gaza: Israeli Strikes Kill 19, Including 8 Children
Devastating Dawn Strike
Rescuers in Gaza reported that at least 19 people, including 8 children, were killed in Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory on Saturday. The devastating attack began at dawn with an air strike on the house of the al-Ghoul family in Gaza City, killing 11 people, 7 of whom were children.
Complete Destruction
The two-storey building, which housed several displaced people, was completely destroyed, leaving several people still trapped under the rubble. Israeli drones also fired on ambulance staff, according to civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal.
No Comment from Israeli Army
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli army did not immediately comment on the strike. However, AFP images from the neighbourhood of Shujaiya, in the east of Gaza City, showed residents combing through smoking rubble and bodies lined up on the ground, covered in white sheets.
Witness Account
"I was surprised to see (the strike) was on the house of our neighbours, the al-Ghoul family. It was home to children, women. There wasn’t anyone wanted or who posed a threat," said witness Ahmed Mussa, who described the scene as a "huge explosion" that woke him up and caused everything to shake.
Security Officers Killed
Elsewhere, the civil defence agency reported that 5 security officers, tasked with accompanying aid convoys, were killed by an Israeli strike while driving in a car in the southern city of Khan Yunis. Bassal accused Israel of deliberately targeting them to affect the humanitarian supply chain and increase the suffering of the population. The army has not yet responded to the accusations.
Local Rescuers Report Additional Deaths
Local rescuers also reported that 3 members of the same family, including a child, were killed when their house was bombed in Khan Yunis.
Background to the Conflict
The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 45,717 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.
Conclusion
The tragic events in Gaza serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of conflict and the importance of finding peaceful solutions to resolve disputes. The loss of innocent lives, including children, is a tragedy that affects not only the families and communities involved but also the global community as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the cause of the conflict in Gaza?
A: The conflict was sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Q: How many people have been killed in the conflict?
A: According to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, at least 45,717 people have been killed, the majority of them civilians.
Q: What was the outcome of the latest Israeli strike?
A: The strike killed at least 19 people, including 8 children, and destroyed a two-storey building in Gaza City.