Israeli strikes kill 37 as Gaza attacks escalate, medics report
Israeli airstrikes killed seven people late Monday at a café near Khan Younis in southern Gaza, medics reported. This brought the death toll from Israeli strikes since Sunday night to at least 37. Earlier on Monday, Israeli forces launched a tank incursion into Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, causing panic among residents. Tanks opened fire as they advanced, killing 20 people, including some in a tent camp.
Zaik Mohammad, a local resident, described the chaos. “Some people couldn’t leave and remained trapped in their homes, while others fled with what they could carry,” he said. The violence comes amid Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, now in its 14th month, focusing on the north and center of the region to target Hamas militants.
Tens of thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate, raising concerns they may never be allowed to return. Meanwhile, efforts for a ceasefire have stalled, with Qatar suspending mediation after both sides showed little willingness to negotiate.
In addition to the southern attacks, Israeli airstrikes also hit Gaza City and Beit Lahiya in the north. At Kamal Adwan Hospital, Israeli drone fire wounded three medical workers. The Israeli military reported killing Mohammad Abu Skhail, a senior commander of the Islamic Jihad group, in a strike on a Gaza City compound. The attack also killed six people.
Israeli forces have besieged hospitals in northern Gaza, refusing to allow evacuations despite severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and fuel. Despite these conditions, hospital officials have resisted evacuation orders to protect their patients.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters have continued to launch ambushes, mortar fire, and anti-tank rocket attacks, claiming to have killed many Israeli soldiers. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has expanded a humanitarian zone, allowing more supplies to enter Gaza.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on Israeli communities, has devastated Gaza, leaving much of it in ruins and killing approximately 43,500 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
