Gaza Under Fire: Israeli Strikes Kill 10 Members of Same Family, UN Warns of "Forcible Transfer"
Gaza City, Gaza Strip
Gaza rescuers said a pre-dawn Israeli air strike Friday killed 10 members of the same family, as the UN said dozens of recent attacks on the Palestinian territory had killed only women and children.
UN Warns of "Forcible Transfer"
A UN rights office report also warned that expanding Israeli evacuation orders were resulting in the "forcible transfer" of people into ever-shrinking spaces, which "raise real concern as to the future viability of Palestinians as a group in Gaza".
Israel’s Military Response
Israel’s military said it was looking into the attack that killed members of the same family in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, adding separately that it had struck approximately 40 "terror targets" across the territory over the past day. Israel resumed its Gaza strikes on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.
Humanitarian Crisis
Since then, more than 1,500 people have been killed, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory to which Israel cut off aid more than a month ago. "Ten people, including seven children, were brought to the hospital as martyrs following an Israeli air strike that targeted the Farra family home in central Khan Yunis," civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP.
Ceasefire Efforts
A truce brokered by the United States, Egypt and Qatar that took effect on January 19 and lasted until March 17 saw the return of 33 Israeli hostages, eight of them in coffins, in exchange for around 1,800 Palestinian prisoners. In a Passover holiday message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his pledge to bring the remaining captives home.
UN Human Rights Office Report
The UN on Friday decried the impact of the ongoing Israeli strikes, finding that "a large percentage of fatalities are children and women". "Between 18 March and 9 April 2025, there were some 224 incidents of Israeli strikes on residential buildings and tents for internally displaced people," the UN human rights office said in Geneva. "In some 36 strikes about which the UN Human Rights Office corroborated information, the fatalities recorded so far were only women and children."
Conclusion
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with the latest Israeli strike killing 10 members of the same family. The UN has warned of the "forcible transfer" of people into shrinking spaces, raising concerns about the future viability of Palestinians in Gaza. As the conflict continues, it is essential that the international community works towards a lasting ceasefire and the delivery of aid to those affected.
FAQs
Q: How many people have been killed in the Gaza conflict?
A: According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 1,542 Palestinians have been killed since March 18.
Q: What is the cause of the conflict?
A: The conflict began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians.
Q: What is the current situation in Gaza?
A: Gaza is currently under a strict blockade, with Israel cutting off aid more than a month ago. The humanitarian crisis is worsening, with shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.