An Israeli air strike has killed 12 members of a family, including seven children, in the northern Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence rescue agency. The bombing, which took place in Jabalia, saw victims pulled from the rubble of the Khallah family home.
“All of the martyrs are from the same family, including seven children, the oldest aged six,” said Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for the Civil Defence, speaking to AFP. He added that the air raid also left 15 others injured.
The Israeli army confirmed the strike, saying it targeted “several terrorists who were operating in a military structure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organisation and posed a threat to IDF troops operating in the area.”
“According to an initial examination, the reported number of casualties resulting from the strike does not align with the information held by the IDF,” a spokesperson for the army added.
The attack came as Pope Francis condemned the bombing of children in Gaza, calling it “cruelty.” “Yesterday children were bombed. This is cruelty, this is not war,” he said. “I want to say it because it touches my heart.”
Israel’s assault on Gaza continues as the conflict enters its 14th month. On Friday, a drone missile struck a residential building in the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing at least eight people, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. In Beit Hanoon, four people, including two girls and their parents, were killed in an airstrike. Meanwhile, the bodies of three brothers were recovered from the rubble of a home near Kamal Adwan Hospital.
Gaza now a ‘Graveyard,’ warns UNRWA
Gaza has become a “graveyard,” with worsening conditions including hunger, heavy rain, and ongoing attacks, warned Louise Wateridge, Senior Emergency Officer for the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA). She added that “over two million people are trapped” in the region, struggling in makeshift shelters as most buildings have either been damaged or destroyed.
“It’s impossible for families to shelter in these conditions,” Wateridge said, speaking from the Nuseirat camp. “Most people are living under fabric, they don’t even have waterproof structures, and 69 percent of the buildings here have been damaged or destroyed.”
UNRWA, which assists nearly six million Palestinian refugees across Gaza and beyond, is grappling with a lack of resources as Israeli legislation has barred the agency from operating in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem. This move prompted Sweden to announce it would stop funding UNRWA but would double its aid to Gaza through other groups. UNRWA’s Chief Philippe Lazzarini described the decision as “disappointing,” given the dire situation in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations regarding humanitarian aid in Palestinian territories. This follows previous ICJ rulings urging Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah and allow safe passage for humanitarian aid, which Israel has not complied with.
The ongoing crisis continues to strain international efforts to provide assistance to those affected by the violence.
