International Desk, 23rd October: Over the past 24 hours, the Gaza Strip has witnessed a devastating surge in casualties, with at least 266 Palestinians losing their lives, including 117 children. Among these losses, 30 individuals perished when an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in the al-Shuhada area of the Jabalia refugee camp. The impact was so severe that it reduced the building to rubble and caused damage to several neighboring houses, as reported by Palestinian media sources.
Furthermore, reports have emerged of Israeli bombings striking dangerously close to three hospitals in the Gaza Strip, raising concerns about the potential consequences for these critical healthcare facilities. While the extent of damage to the hospitals was not immediately clear, the airstrikes were reported in proximity to Gaza City’s Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals, as well as near the Indonesian Hospital in the enclave’s northern region. The situation has become so dire that Israel ordered the evacuation of Al-Quds hospital, as revealed by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
The Israeli airstrikes have shown no signs of abating, with continued bombardment in Gaza during the early hours of Monday. The attacks have primarily focused on central and northern regions of Gaza, as conveyed by Palestinian media.
The mounting human toll paints a bleak picture of the conflict, with health authorities in Gaza now reporting at least 4,600 casualties during Israel’s two-week bombardment. The escalation began after a surprise attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel on October 7, a stark event that claimed the lives of 1,400 individuals and continues to have far-reaching consequences.