Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Cause Heavy Casualties

According to the reports on Friday (13 December), at least 27 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting residential houses in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. The attacks struck a residential block housing a government post office building sheltering displaced people. Rescue operations are ongoing despite limited equipment and persistent Israeli airstrikes overhead.

Earlier, at least 10 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in an Israeli drone attack on a gathering in central Gaza City. The Israeli military has not issued any statements regarding either incident. Civil defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal expressed concerns that the death toll could rise due to the severity of injuries sustained by many victims.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently announced completing a targeted operation against underground militant infrastructure in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza. This operation is part of Israel’s broader military campaign against Hamas, launched in retaliation for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, which left about 1,200 people dead and around 250 taken hostage.

The ongoing Israeli offensive has resulted in a reported death toll of 44,835 Palestinians, according to Gaza-based health authorities. The situation remains dire, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating amid continuous airstrikes, displacement, and mounting casualties in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

References

• Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Cause Rising Casualties