At least 61 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours as Israeli airstrikes and drone fire hit some residential areas, Gaza’s Health Ministry said. The ministry reported that the number of people killed since October 2023 stands at around 65,344 and more than 166,000 injured. The figures could not be independently verified.
Medics reported to the Palestinian news agency WAFA that dozens were killed after fighter jets targeted a residential building in central Gaza City’s Al-Samar neighborhood. Individual strikes were reported near Al-Shifa Tower in west Gaza City. A child was killed in a drone strike targeting a vehicle in the Al-Farouq district east of Al-Zawaida, in the central strip, outlets reported. Israeli air raids also launched intense strikes against homes near Al-Quds Open University, in the north of Gaza City. Independent reports were not available. Israel’s military has increased activity inside and outside Gaza City this month, calling the area a Hamas and other militant groups’ stronghold. Striking intensively in recent days as well as threatening evacuations to residents have been reported. Israel typically says it targets militants and military infrastructure; Palestinian officials and residents say densely populated residential neighborhoods are taking the brunt of the firepower.
The rise in casualties comes as mounting global pressure is brought upon the cost of the war. A number of foreign news agencies, citing Gaza officials, now place the Palestinian death toll at more than 65,000 since the conflict intensified nearly two years ago, with women and children constituting a large percentage of those dead. The United Nations still cites Health Ministry figures while noting they are provided by local authorities and are to be verified.
The current stage of the conflict follows Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks that cost around 1,200 lives in Israel and saw hundreds being taken as hostages, according to Israeli authorities. Relatives of the remaining hostages still go on pressing Israel’s government into a deal to see them return home even as the bombardment continues.
This is an exclusive report, and the facts are subject to change as more information becomes available. Israeli authorities did not right away react to the Monday-only attacks. Information in Gaza was taken from local sources of health and WAFA reports; casualty figures are according to Health Ministry reports that could not be independently verified by Virginia Times at press time.
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