Israeli Attacks in Gaza Result in Tragic Loss of 40 Lives

In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) led a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip on the previous day, involving intensive air and artillery strikes, followed by tank incursions into northern Gaza City.

The Israeli army targeted a high-rise building in Gaza that Hamas had reportedly used during the war. However, the claims about the attacks and casualties cannot be independently verified. According to several Palestinian media outlets, six Palestinians waiting for aid were reportedly killed in Israeli shelling in Khan Younis, as confirmed by the Nasser Hospital in the city. At least 40 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since dawn, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Medical sources in Gaza City reported 25 deaths from the Israeli strikes.

The Israeli army insists on sparing civilian populations in its attacks on Hamas and other terror targets. However, the accusations of using civilian infrastructure as human shields persist, with Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, joining the chorus of criticism. He condemned the mass killing of civilians in Gaza, specifically mentioning the destruction in Gaza City.

Israel's army is investigating the reports of the deaths of the six Palestinians and the claims about the attacks and casualties. The Israeli army claims that Hamas placed explosives in the targeted high-rise building. However, these claims have not been verified independently.

The Israeli army's conduct of the war is facing heavy international criticism. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the Israeli army's actions in the war, specifically mentioning the destruction in Gaza City. Israel's aim is to fully militarily occupy the city of Gaza in its war against Hamas, but the international community is calling for a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.