According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, at least 22 individuals, including six children, have lost their lives due to recent Israeli airstrikes in the region.
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Agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal reported that one strike tragically claimed the lives of ten members from a single family, who were sheltering in the Al-Mawasi area near Khan Yunis. Additionally, another strike at the Al-Shati camp close to Gaza City resulted in the deaths of ten more individuals and left over thirty others injured.
The victims from the Al-Shati incident were identified as belonging to two families, further highlighting the deeply personal nature of this tragedy.
Upon inquiry, the Israeli military stated that they were “looking into the reports.”
“The bodies and remains of the martyrs were scattered,” lamented Abeer al-Sharbasi, a 36-year-old survivor reflecting on the devastation after the Al-Shati strike. She expressed, “You can’t predict when or why they’ll bomb you. We have nothing left but to surrender ourselves to God.”
These bombings occurred during a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where they discussed ongoing military efforts against Hamas in Gaza. Following their discussion, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s objectives to secure the release of all hostages taken during the militants’ attack on October 7, 2023, and emphasized their commitment to dismantling Hamas’s military and governance capacity.
In the wake of the strikes, sobbing crowds of mourners gathered outside Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, where director Mohammad Abu Salmiya warned journalists of an impending shutdown, stating that the facility would be “completely out of service due to the fuel shortage” within hours. The ongoing offensive, alongside restrictions on aid entering Gaza, has severely strained the territory’s medical infrastructure.
Footage from Al-Mawasi depicted makeshift tents torn apart by the attack, with a child’s stuffed toy lying in the wreckage—a poignant emblem of lost innocence. “We are extremely tired,” shared displaced Palestinian Umm Ahmed. “Every day they say there is a ceasefire, but there are massacres.”
In Khan Yunis, mourners paid their respects, giving a final embrace to loved ones whose bodies were laid out for farewell. Bassal later reported additional casualties, with two more individuals confirmed dead in separate strikes in central Gaza and the city itself.
It was emphasized by Hisham Mhanna of the International Committee of the Red Cross that the ICRC field hospital in Rafah has remained the only fully operational medical facility in the area for over a year. He noted, “It has been under severe strain due to large mass casualty situations…” Since late May, the hospital has treated over 2,200 casualties, with more than 200 arriving without vital signs.
Mr. Mhanna provided insight into the dire state of healthcare, stating, “The total number of mass casualty incidents has exceeded all previous emergency situations combined.” Many individuals seeking care are desperate, resorting to risky measures to secure food and other essential needs. He remarked that since the onset of this conflict, “the entire healthcare sector in Gaza has been decimated.”
“Ongoing restrictions on urgent humanitarian aid—medical supplies, equipment, fuel, and food—have pushed our already fragile healthcare system further into disarray,” he cautioned. “Countless healthcare professionals and patients have lost their lives while seeking or providing care. This is utterly unacceptable.”
Describing the chaos on the ground, he emphasized that “everyone in Gaza is waiting for a declaration of a ceasefire agreement.” The ICRC remains prepared to facilitate this agreement once established by the involved parties.
The attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to AFP based on official Israeli figures. Of the 251 hostages taken during that assault, 49 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military confirming the deaths of 27. In retaliation, Israel’s continued campaign has resulted in at least 57,680 deaths in Gaza, again primarily affecting civilians, as reported by the territory’s health ministry. The UN recognizes these figures as credible.
Furthermore, the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) highlighted that recent mortality surveys among their staff and families in Gaza corroborated these statistics, revealing that the mortality rate among children under five has increased tenfold compared to estimates prior to October 7, 2023.
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Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
