KHAN YOUNIS: Israeli warplanes launched a deadly strike on a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip early Sunday, resulting in the tragic death of at least 53 innocent Palestinians and leaving dozens wounded, health officials said. The attack occurred as Israel vowed to continue its brutal offensive in the territory, defying appeals from the United States for a temporary halt to allow humanitarian aid to reach desperate Palestinian civilians.
The escalating death toll in Gaza has provoked widespread international outrage, prompting tens of thousands of protesters from Washington to Berlin to demand an immediate ceasefire. The Gaza Strip’s health ministry has called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or Egypt to facilitate the safe evacuation of the wounded from the besieged enclave.
“We call on the ICRC to provide a safe passage for the injured, accompany them, and ensure their safe arrival at the Rafah land crossing until they are shifted to hospitals in Egypt,” urged Ashraf Al-Qudra, the spokesman for the ministry of health.
Evacuations of injured Palestinians and foreign passport holders from Gaza through the Rafah crossing to Egypt have been suspended since Saturday, following an Israeli strike on an ambulance in Gaza used for transporting the injured.
Israel Rejects Proposals of Pauses in Gaza Strikes
Despite proposals for brief humanitarian pauses made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his regional tour, Israel has rejected the idea of halting its offensive, stating that Gaza is facing the full force of Israeli troops. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant warned that anyone in Gaza City was risking their life.
The Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza was targeted by Israeli airstrike, resulting in the martyrdom of at least 53 innocent Palestinians and injuring 42. The camp, situated in an evacuation zone, was an area where Israel’s military had urged Palestinian civilians in Gaza to seek refuge.
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Critics have raised concerns about the disproportionate nature of Israel’s strikes, particularly given the high number of women and children killed in these attacks. Northern Gaza, housing around 1.1 million residents, has witnessed extensive destruction due to Israeli airstrikes. UN monitors have reported that over half of the remaining residents in northern Gaza, approximately 300,000 people, are now seeking shelter in UN-run facilities, despite the continued threat to these shelters from Israeli strikes.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with shortages of food, water, and essential fuel for generators that power hospitals. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that among the Palestinians killed in Gaza are over 3,900 children.
