Key Points
- Five civilians, including a child, killed in Jabalia
- Pope presses Netanyahu for immediate Gaza truce
- Germany says what’s happening in Gaza is ‘unacceptable’
- Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 58,667
GAZA: At least 35 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured on Friday in a series of Israeli air strikes targeting residential areas and shelters for the displaced across Gaza.
In the northern town of Jabalia, five Palestinians, including a child, were killed when an Israeli strike hit a group of civilians in the Al-Nazla area, Al Jazeera reported.
The attack marked the latest in a pattern of strikes on densely populated areas with no prior warning, residents said.
Most of the fatalities took place in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, where 14 people were killed in multiple strikes at dawn.
Earlier, an Israeli strike targeted tents housing displaced Palestinians in al-Mawasi, southern Gaza — an area previously designated as a so-called “safe zone.” The attack sparked a large fire and killed at least five people, including infants. Al-Mawasi has faced repeated and deadly Israeli attacks in recent weeks.
Pope presses Netanyahu for immediate Gaza truce
Pope Leo XIV has called for an immediate ceasefire in light of the “dramatic humanitarian situation” in Gaza during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu called Pope Leo, the Vatican said, a day after an Israeli strike on Gaza’s sole Catholic church killed three people and injured several more.
During the call, the pope renewed his appeal for a ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza, and expressed his concern over the “dramatic” humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave, a Vatican statement said. Leo also stressed the urgent need to protect places of worship, the faithful, and all people in the Palestinian territories and Israel, the statement added.
Germany’s Merz says what’s happening in Gaza is ‘unacceptable’
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz renewed his criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid for Palestinians.
At a press conference in Berlin, Merz voiced deep concern over the ongoing crisis in Gaza. He also noted that he is engaging with European leaders to explore avenues for a ceasefire and to secure unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected areas.
“The actions in the Gaza Strip are no longer acceptable to us,” the Conservative leader said. “We are pushing for, first, a ceasefire there and, second, comprehensive humanitarian aid for the people in the region,” he added.
Italy urges Israel to ensure safety of aid envoys
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called on Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza and to ensure the safety of two senior Christian leaders providing humanitarian aid to civilians in the besieged enclave.
“I am in contact with Cardinal Pizzaballa, who, together with Patriarch Theophilos, is entering Gaza with a cargo of 500 tons of aid for the civilian population,” Tajani said on X.
“The Italian government calls on Israel to cease military action and fully guarantee the safety of the two envoys on their important mission,” he added.
Israel’s war on Gaza
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 58,667 people and wounded 139,974, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
According to the ministry, of the 94 deceased Palestinians, 26 were killed while seeking humanitarian aid.
Additionally, at least 367 injured Palestinians have also arrived at Gaza hospitals in the last 24 hours, including more than 32 who were hurt seeking aid.
Since the contentious US and Israel-backed GHF food distribution scheme was launched in May, at least 877 Palestinian aid seekers have been killed and 5,666 have been wounded.
