Gaza City, Palestine – In a tragic turn of events, 37 individuals, including children and pregnant women, were killed in a devastating Israeli airstrike on a residential area in central Gaza on Friday night, as reported by the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The strike resulted in extensive destruction, with video footage showing ambulance crews recovering bodies wrapped in blankets among the debris.
The incident took place west of the Nuseirat refugee camp, a location that has faced multiple strikes in recent days. Medical staff revealed that 35 out of the 37 victims belonged to a single family, underscoring the magnitude of the tragedy that unfolded in the densely populated neighborhood.
In the wake of the airstrike, video footage emerged of the deceased and injured being brought to Al Aqsa Martyrs’ hospital, further highlighting the devastating toll inflicted on innocent civilians. Witnesses in the area also recounted another strike in Nuseirat overnight, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals.
The Israel Defense Forces justified the strikes by claiming that the targeted locations harbored “several Hamas terrorists.” However, residents in the region reported receiving telephone warnings to evacuate within a mere 15-minute timeframe, leaving many with no choice but to flee their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Amid the chaos and destruction, survivors shared harrowing accounts of the sudden and catastrophic nature of the airstrikes, with one young man recounting how two missiles razed seven buildings in a matter of minutes, leaving behind a scene akin to an earthquake. The gravity of the situation prompted urgent calls for assistance and intervention to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the violence.
As the international community grapples with the aftermath of the tragic events in Gaza, questions loom over the escalation of hostilities in the region and the urgent need for a concerted effort to protect civilian lives. The toll of innocent victims underscores the imperative of finding a lasting and peaceful resolution to the longstanding conflict that continues to claim lives and perpetuate suffering in the region.