Rafah: In a tragic escalation of violence in Gaza, at least 16 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting residential areas. The deadly strikes focused on a house in the Soba region, north of Rafah, resulting in the deaths of 13 civilians and leaving several others injured, according to local Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses. Among the casualties were families caught in the middle of the intensifying conflict.
Another airstrike hit a vehicle in Gaza City’s Abbas Square, killing three more people, including a child, as Israeli warplanes continued their heavy bombardment of the region. Despite the devastating losses, Israeli authorities have yet to issue an official comment on the incidents.
The airstrikes come as part of Israel’s sweeping military response to a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The unprecedented assault on Israel’s southern border left 1,200 people dead and led to the capture of approximately 250 hostages, triggering a full-scale Israeli military operation in Gaza. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with the death toll in Gaza exceeding 41,000, and more than 90% of Gaza’s population displaced, compounding fears of further civilian suffering.
As the situation deteriorates, the world watches with mounting concern over the growing number of casualties and the impact of the relentless bombardment on the lives of those trapped in the conflict.
