At least 11 Palestinians have been killed, including women and children, and dozens more wounded in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza City amid the escalating conflict between both sides.
Israeli aircraft struck at least four residential buildings in the Sheikh Radwan and Tel al-Hawa neighbourhoods, as well as Shati refugee camp, in the early hours of Thursday, triggering powerful explosions and widespread panic among residents.
Witnesses said the attack followed the brief presence of three Israeli helicopters over Gaza City’s coastline before they launched simultaneous strikes on the targeted buildings.
Among those reportedly killed was Hamas commander in northern Gaza, Hassan Labad, who died alongside his wife and three of their children.
A spokesperson for the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said the dead also included two children with disabilities from the Labad family, as well as three women.
Israel has continued carrying out airstrikes in Gaza despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement, accusing Hamas of rearming and rebuilding its forces.
More than 940 people have reportedly been killed since the ceasefire took effect in October, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Meanwhile, with global attention focused on other conflicts in the Middle East, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and reported Israeli plans to expand its control over up to 70 per cent of the territory.