Israel bombs Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinians in ‘another night of massacres’ as UN warns civilians face ‘grave peril’

Israeli forces launched a comprehensive assault on cities, towns, and refugee camps throughout Gaza, extending from the night into Thursday. The offensive, both aerial and terrestrial, targeted Hamas and resulted in the death of numerous individuals. The scope of the attack has expanded to cover most of Gaza, compelling thousands to evacuate their homes and shelters. One of the initial targets of the ground invasion that commenced in October was a residence in Beit Lahiyeh, a northern town. The air strike led to the death of at least 21 individuals, including women and children, as reported by a family member.

Bassel Kheir al-Din, a local TV station journalist, stated that the strike demolished his family's house and inflicted severe damage on three adjacent residences. He reported that 12 of his family members, including three children aged 2, 7, and 8, were buried and presumed deceased, and nine of their neighbours were unaccounted for. In central Gaza, Israeli warplanes and artillery heavily bombarded the densely populated Bureij and Nuseirat refugee camps, causing the destruction of several buildings, according to residents. Israel announced earlier this week that it would extend its ground offensive into central Gaza, typically initiating waves of air strikes and shelling prior to the deployment of troops and tanks.

A hospital in the nearby town of Deir al-Balah received the bodies of 25 individuals who were killed overnight, including five children and seven women, as per hospital records on Thursday. Continuous explosions were audible throughout the night in the town, where hundreds of thousands of individuals have sought refuge, with many spending chilly nights sleeping on pavements. Saeed Moustafa, a resident of the Nuseirat camp, described the situation as 'another night of killing and massacres. ' He reported that cries for help could still be heard from the debris of a house struck by an air strike on Wednesday, but they lacked the necessary equipment to rescue them.