At least 75 Palestinians were reported killed across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, as Israeli air strikes intensified amid the second day of Eid al-Adha celebrations. Rescue operations are ongoing, with officials warning the final death toll is expected to rise as bodies are retrieved from beneath collapsed structures.
According to Mahmoud Basel, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence, an Israeli air raid targeted a residential building in Gaza City without prior warning, resulting in the deaths of 16 members of a single family. Basel stated that approximately 85 individuals were believed to be buried under the rubble.
“This is truly a full-fledged massacre … a building full of civilians,” Basel told reporters at the site of the strike.
One displaced resident described the scene of devastation, “We woke up to the strikes, destruction, yelling, and rocks hitting us,” he said. “This is the occupation. Instead of waking up to cheer our children and dress them up to enjoy Eid, we wake up to carry women and children’s bodies from under rubble.”
The family killed in the air strike belonged to Abu Sharia, a commander within the Mujahideen Brigades, who the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused of playing a role in the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led assault on Israel. Hamas confirmed the death of Abu Sharia’s brother, Ahmed Abu Sharia, describing the incident as “part of a series of brutal massacres against civilians”.
Also read: Israeli bombardment kills 42 on Eid in Gaza; aid suspended
In a separate incident, at least eight people were killed near an aid distribution point in Rafah, operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This attack marked the latest in a series of deadly events surrounding GHF operations, which have resulted in 118 fatalities and several individuals unaccounted for in less than a fortnight.
The United Nations, which has declined to coordinate with the GHF, has reiterated its warning that Gaza faces a looming famine. The 11-week Israeli blockade has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with the rate of acute malnutrition among young children nearly tripling.
Reports further indicate that pregnant women are suffering from severe malnutrition, compounded by extreme psychological stress, repeated displacement, and a dire shortage of safe shelter.
Follow us
