Israeli Strike
CAIRO: At least 29 Palestinians, including children, were killed in a devastating Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the Shujaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, according to local health officials on Wednesday.
The strike targeted a multi-story home in the eastern part of the city, leaving dozens more wounded and scores feared trapped beneath the rubble. Several nearby houses were also damaged in the attack, further compounding the destruction in an already ravaged region.
Emergency responders reported chaos and confusion at the scene, with medics working frantically to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies from the debris. The full extent of the casualties remains unclear, as many are still believed to be missing.
In response to the incident, the Israeli military stated it had targeted a senior Hamas operative allegedly responsible for orchestrating attacks from Shujaiya in northern Gaza. The identity of the individual was not disclosed.
Israeli authorities claimed that “several steps” were taken to minimize civilian casualties during the operation — a claim disputed by the high number of deaths and injuries.
This was not the only attack that day. Palestinian health officials confirmed that nine additional Palestinians were killed in separate Israeli military strikes across the enclave, raising Wednesday’s total death toll to 38.
Since Israel resumed its military offensive on Gaza on March 18 following a two-month truce, nearly 1,500 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, according to the health ministry in Hamas-administered Gaza.
The broader conflict, ongoing since October 2023, has so far claimed the lives of over 50,800 Palestinians, as reported by Palestinian authorities.
Israel has also ordered the evacuation of residents from various border regions in Gaza, citing security concerns. However, many Palestinians fear this move is part of a broader plan to forcibly depopulate significant parts of the territory.
Amid rising tensions and continued violence, diplomatic efforts remain at a standstill. Mediation attempts by Qatar and Egypt, supported by the United States, have yet to yield a ceasefire or substantive progress toward peace.
Speaking at a conference in Paris, UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese warned of dire consequences if global actors fail to intervene.
She stated that Israel’s continued military operations reflect a refusal to respect ceasefires and a lack of accountability. Albanese further suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has personal motivations to prolong the war, citing pending legal proceedings that were set to resume just before the latest round of strikes.
“There is not much time left to save the Palestinian people,” Albanese said, calling for urgent international action to prevent further bloodshed.
