DEIR EL-BALAH – Israeli strikes on the northern Gaza Strip killed at least 17 Palestinians early Monday, according to local health officials.
Israel has been conducting daily airstrikes on Gaza since terminating its ceasefire with Hamas last month. Since the start of March, all imports, including food and medicine, have been halted to the 2 million Palestinians living in the territory. Israel claims this action is a strategy to push the militant group into releasing hostages.
The daily bombardment and widespread hunger is taking a heavy toll on Gaza’s most vulnerable residents, including pregnant women and children.
An airstrike recently targeted a house in Beit Lahiya, resulting in the deaths of 10 individuals, including a Palestinian ex-prisoner named Abdel-Fattah Abu Mahadi. Abu Mahadi had been released as part of the ceasefire agreement. His wife, two of their children, and a grandchild were among the casualties, as confirmed by the Indonesian Hospital, which received the bodies.
In another strike on a residence in Gaza City, seven people lost their lives, including two women, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency service. Additionally, two individuals sustained injuries as a result of the attack.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel says it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths because the militants operate in densely populated areas.
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians. Israel’s bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of Gaza and left most of its population homeless.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until all the hostages are returned and Hamas is either destroyed or agrees to disarm and leave the territory. He says Israel will then implement U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to resettle much of Gaza’s population in other countries through what the Israeli leader refers to as “voluntary emigration.”
Palestinians say the plan would amount to forcible expulsion from their homeland after Israel’s offensive left much of Gaza uninhabitable. Human rights experts say it would likely violate international law.
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as called for in the ceasefire that Israel ended.
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Magdy reported from Cairo.
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