Israel strikes leave 130 dead in Gaza

TDT | Agencies

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Israel strikes leave 130 dead in Gaza Agencies Overnight Israeli airstrikes killed at least 130 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in the war-ravaged Gaza, local health officials said yesterday.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 464 Palestinians were killed in the week to yesterday as a result of Israel’s escalated bombardment.

The deaths of at least 130 Palestinians overnight are in addition to that figure.

“Complete families were wiped off the civil registration record by (overnight) Israeli bombardment,” Khalil Al-Deqran, Gaza health ministry spokesperson, said.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the casualties.

On the other hand, Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP at least 50 people had been killed yesterday “as a result of ongoing Israeli air strikes since the early hours”.

Pre-dawn attack

He said 22 people died and at least 100 others wounded in a pre-dawn attack on tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Al-Mawasi in the southern Gaza Strip.

AFPTV footage showed people sifting through what was left of ruined shelters and rescuers treating the wounded.

“All my family members are gone. There is no one left,” said a distraught Warda al-Shaer amid the wreckage.

“The children were killed as well as their parents. My mother died too, and my niece lost her eye.”

The ministry said 31 children and 27 women were left dead and hundreds more wounded in Friday’s airstrikes.

In southern Gaza, Israel struck the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and the city of Khan Younis. It said it hit anti-tank missile posts and military structures.

Three children and their grandfather were killed as they fled bombardment in Khan Younis, said the head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital, Dr. Ahmed al-Farra. In northern Gaza, the attacks sent people fleeing from the Jabaliya refugee camp and the town of Beit Lahiya.

The attacks came as Israel prepares for a new ground offensive aimed at achieving “operational control” in parts of Gaza.