Israeli Airstrikes Kill 26 in Gaza, Including Children and Hamas Officers, as Conflict Escalates

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 26 in Gaza, Including Children and Hamas Officers

Israeli airstrikes on Thursday killed at least 26 people across the Gaza Strip, including children and senior Hamas police officers. The strikes hit a designated humanitarian zone, further displacing hundreds of thousands of people already seeking refuge from the ongoing conflict.

One airstrike in the Muwasi humanitarian zone killed at least 10 people, including three children and two senior Hamas police officers. The Israeli military claimed it targeted a senior officer involved in gathering intelligence for Hamas' armed wing.

Another strike in Deir al-Balah killed at least eight Palestinians, who were members of local committees assisting aid convoys. In southern Gaza, five policemen were killed in an airstrike targeting the head of Hamas' internal security force.

These attacks are part of Israel's ongoing offensive in retaliation for a Hamas-led attack into Israel on October 7, 2023. The offensive has killed over 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry, with women and children making up more than half the dead.

The war has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90% of Gaza's population, leading to widespread hunger and suffering.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was recently released from the hospital after prostate surgery, has vowed to continue the offensive until Hamas is destroyed. However, the militant group has repeatedly regrouped after Israeli forces withdraw, raising concerns about the long-term effectiveness of the current strategy.