On Saturday, Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 39 people, according to Palestinian and hospital officials. Rescue efforts were underway amidst the rubble to find survivors, with more than three dozen bodies brought to al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City alone.
The strikes targeted areas like the Shati refugee camp and eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City, where emergency workers continued to search for victims.
Israel confirmed its airstrikes but did not provide further details beyond targeting Hamas military sites in Gaza City. These strikes followed a deadly day before, where at least 25 people were killed in strikes near the city of Rafah.
The ongoing conflict has forced over a million Palestinians to seek refuge, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating rapidly due to shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
In addition to the Gaza conflict, Israeli forces reported that an Israeli man was fatally shot in Qalqilya, escalating tensions in the West Bank. Palestinian casualties in the West Bank have also risen, with at least nine Israelis killed in attacks over the same period.
The violence is part of wider unrest sparked by the Israel-Hamas war, which began with Hamas militants’ incursions into southern Israel and subsequent Israeli retaliation.
In a separate incident, an Israeli soldier was shown in a video transporting an injured Palestinian on the hood of an armored car, prompting an investigation by Israeli authorities.
This incident highlighted growing criticism within Israel over the government’s handling of the conflict and the ongoing hostage crisis involving Naama Levy, an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas.
Amidst mounting public discontent, tens of thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv called for new elections and the safe return of hostages. The unrest underscores deepening divisions within Israeli society over the conduct of the conflict and its broader implications for regional stability.
