Kids are among the many lifeless after an Israeli airstrike on a block of flats in a Gaza refugee camp killed at the least 33 individuals, in keeping with Hamas-run well being authorities.
The assault – which Israel mentioned focused a “senior terrorist” however might have prompted a secondary blast – got here hours after the US nationwide safety adviser raised hopes of a ceasefire deal.
Greater than 80 persons are mentioned to be lacking after the assault in Nuseirat camp on Thursday night time.
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Photos from the scene present a collapsed constructing, which Reuters studies was a put up workplace used as a shelter.
The al Aqsa Hospital mentioned the assault additionally broken a number of close by homes.
Nuseirat is one in all eight historic camps in Gaza, which had been initially for Palestinian refugees from the 1948 warfare resulting in the institution of Israel.
Now it’s a part of a dense city space crowded with displaced individuals from throughout Gaza.
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A casualty from the assault. Pic: Reuters
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) mentioned it focused “terror infrastructure” within the Nuseirat space, singling out a “terrorist responsible for leading terror attacks against Israeli civilians”.
However an “initial inquiry” by the IDF suggests a close-by constructing was seemingly broken “due to the presence of numerous weapons in the structure where the terrorist was located”.
“Secondary explosions were identified,” the IDF mentioned. It added that particulars and the variety of casualties are underneath overview.
“This is another example of the Islamic Jihad’s systematic exploitation of civilian infrastructure and the civilian population as a human shield for its terrorist activities,” the IDF added.
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Individuals mourn at a hospital in Nuseirat. Pic: Reuters
Earlier on Thursday, President Joe Biden’s nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan, who’s in Israel to attempt to safe a ceasefire, mentioned he’s hopeful of a deal.
“I wouldn’t be here now if I didn’t think this thing was just waiting until after 20 January,” he mentioned, referring to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Greater than 44,800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza for the reason that newest warfare started final yr, in keeping with the Hamas-run well being ministry within the territory.
The well being ministry says greater than half of the lifeless are ladies and kids. Its casualty figures don’t differentiate between militants and civilians.
The IDF launched its navy response after Hamas captured hostages and killed round 1,200 individuals in assaults on Israel on 7 October 2023.
Israeli hostages nonetheless stay in Gaza, the place the combating has prompted a extreme humanitarian disaster and warnings of famine.
