July 16th 2024.
In the city of Deir Al-Balah, the situation was dire as Israeli airstrikes rained down on southern and central Gaza overnight and continued into Tuesday. Shockingly, the attacks claimed the lives of over 60 Palestinians, with one strike even hitting an Israeli-designated "safe zone" that was packed with displaced people seeking refuge from the violence.
The most devastating strike of the day occurred in the afternoon near a gas station outside the southern city of Khan Younis. This area, known as Muwasi, is part of the humanitarian "safe zone" where the Israeli military has advised Palestinians to seek shelter. Tragically, 17 people lost their lives in this attack, and nearby tent camps were also heavily impacted.
There has been no response from the Israeli military regarding this strike, which took place in the same area where just a few days prior, more than 90 Palestinians, including innocent children, were killed in an attack that Israel claimed was targeting Hamas' top military commander, Mohammed Deif. However, his whereabouts and condition are still unknown.
As the airstrikes continued, both Israel and Hamas were in talks to reach a cease-fire agreement. Despite the Israeli attack on Deif, Hamas has expressed their commitment to continue negotiations. International mediators are working to find a solution that would end the nine-month-long war and also secure the release of 120 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
More strikes were reported in the Nuseirat and Zawaida refugee camps, and the devastation was felt at a deeper level when four houses were hit, killing 24 people, including women and children. Another attack struck a school that had been turned into a shelter, causing the death of nine individuals. At the Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, where the bodies were taken, officials confirmed the tragic death toll.
In a statement, the Israeli military revealed that they had targeted "terror targets" in central Gaza, but did not provide any further details. Other strikes were carried out in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah, claiming the lives of 12 more people, according to medical officials and AP journalists who witnessed the aftermath.
Over the past day, Israel has conducted airstrikes on around 40 targets in Gaza, including observation posts, military structures belonging to Hamas, and buildings rigged with explosives. This ongoing war has caused immense suffering for the people of Gaza, with over 38,600 deaths, as reported by the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The war has also left the territory in a state of humanitarian crisis, with millions of people displaced and facing hunger.
The war was initially sparked by an attack by Hamas on October 7th, which resulted in the death of 1,200 people, mainly civilians. The militants also took around 250 hostages, and sadly, about 120 are still being held captive, with some believed to have lost their lives, according to Israeli authorities.
The violence has also spread to the West Bank, where on Tuesday, a Palestinian attacked an Israeli policeman, causing minor injuries. The assailant, a 19-year-old from Gaza, was shot and killed by another officer. As the situation in Gaza and the surrounding areas remains tense and volatile, the hope for a peaceful resolution seems to be fading.
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