Surge in Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Results in Numerous Fatalities, Say Witnesses

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Israel intensified its aerial campaign over the Gaza Strip this Tuesday, resulting in casualties among families found in collapsed residential structures. Health authorities report that the fatalities over the last 24 hours are in the hundreds, while medical facilities are inoperative due to bombardment damage and power shortages.

This unprecedented escalation in fatalities suggests an even graver situation unfolding in Gaza as Israeli military forces, supported by tanks and artillery, gear up for a potential ground operation aimed at neutralizing Hamas militants.

The humanitarian crisis is deepening in Gaza, home to 2.3 million people, as supplies of food, water, and medicine have been critically depleted since Israel imposed a blockade following Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israeli towns.

The Health Ministry in Gaza, which operates under Hamas, stated that Israeli airstrikes resulted in at least 704 deaths in the past day, primarily among women and children. These numbers could not be independently verified by external news organizations.

U.S. Position and Israeli Airstrikes

In Washington, John Kirby, the spokesman for the White House National Security Council, told the media that the U.S. government cannot corroborate the reported death toll.

Israeli authorities revealed that they had executed 400 airstrikes in the last 24 hours, targeting Hamas leaders, militants poised to launch rockets into Israel, and various command structures, including a tunnel network used by Hamas. Israel had reported 320 strikes the previous day.

Statements from Israel

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen addressed the U.N. Security Council, asserting that a proportionate response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack involves the complete elimination of the militant group. “It is not just Israel’s right but our obligation,” he emphasized.

Israeli forces also successfully countered an attempt by Hamas underwater divers to infiltrate Israel’s coastline north of Gaza, utilizing air, naval, and ground assets in the operation.

Humanitarian Crisis and Hospital Shutdowns

In regions across central and southern Gaza, rescue workers were observed extracting deceased and injured individuals from heaps of rubble, the aftermath of collapsed structures. Medical facilities are stretched thin, struggling to triage incoming patients, with more than half of primary health care centers no longer operational, according to the World Health Organization.

Aid supplies remain restricted, as Israel has only permitted a limited number of aid trucks while barring fuel deliveries, causing concerns over the U.N.’s ability to continue its relief operations.

Reactions from Regional Powers

Warnings from Iranian-backed fighters across the Middle East suggest potential for broader conflict, targeting U.S. forces stationed in the region, should a ground invasion commence. Meanwhile, skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah occur almost daily along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Contributors to this report include correspondents from Cairo, Jerusalem, Deir al-Balah, Washington, and London.

For more detailed coverage, please visit AP’s Israel-Hamas War Report.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

More about Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

• Israeli Military Operations in Gaza
• Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
• U.N. Security Council on Israel-Gaza Conflict
• Role of the United States in the Israel-Gaza Crisis
• World Health Organization Statement on Gaza
• Hamas: Ideology and Objectives
• Iranian Influence in the Middle East
• Israel’s Iron Dome Missile Defense System
• Hostage Situation in Gaza
• International Laws Governing Armed Conflict