Gaza health officials report that Israeli airstrikes over Gaza on Sunday claimed at least 30 Palestinian lives, including a local journalist and a senior officer in the civil emergency services.
Medics reported that the deaths happened during different attacks in Khan Younis (south), Jabalia (north), and Nuseirat (central Gaza). Among the dead was local journalist Hassan Majdi Abu Warda, who perished with several close relatives when an airstrike hit his house. According to the Hamas-run government media office, his death raises the number of journalists murdered in Gaza since October 2023 to 220.
Another strike in Nuseirat killed senior civil emergency service officer Ashraf Abu Nar and his wife.
The Israeli military did not specifically address the particular attacks but rather said Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had seen troops in Khan Younis. He advised troops that the fight “is not an interminable war” and asserted that Hamas has lost much of its operational capacity, including command and control systems. Zamir added, “We will use all tools at our disposal to bring the hostages home, dismantle Hamas, and dismantle its government.”
Later on Sunday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) verified that an Israeli bombardment of a house in Khan Younis killed two of its employees, Ibrahim Eid and Ahmad Abu Hilal. Emphasizing the necessity to protect humanitarian workers and civilians, the ICRC noted in its statement the rising civilian toll and restated its demand of a ceasefire.
Israeli forces now dominate 77% of the land—either through direct military presence or via bombardments and evacuation orders preventing civilians from returning to their homes, according to the Gaza media office.
Meanwhile, the military arms of Hamas and Islamic Jihad asserted responsibility for numerous ambushes and assaults against Israeli soldiers on Sunday, employing explosive devices and anti-tank rockets in other parts of Gaza.
The Israeli military reported on Friday that 75 locations, including rocket launchers and weapons storage facilities, had been targeted overnight.
Beginning when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, the war has caused terrible damage in Gaza. Local health officials report that the Palestinian death toll has now surpassed 53,900. Growing malnutrition and a worsening humanitarian disaster are warned of by aid organizations.
