Israeli airstrikes continued their heavy bombardment of Gaza City, claiming the lives of at least 32 people, as medical staff reported the toll on Saturday.
Among the deceased were 12 children, according to the morgue at Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were brought for identification, reports AP/UNB.
In recent days, Israel has ramped up its offensive, targeting multiple high-rise buildings in Gaza City, claiming Hamas uses them for surveillance operations. On Saturday, the Israeli military reported another strike on a high-rise in Gaza City.
Israeli forces have ordered residents to evacuate the city as part of their strategy to take control of Gaza’s largest urban area, which they describe as Hamas’ last stronghold.
One of the overnight strikes hit a home in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, killing 10 members of a family, including a mother and her three children, as reported by health authorities.
The Palestinian Football Association confirmed that Mohammed Ramez Sultan, a player for Al-Helal Sporting Club, was also killed in the strikes along with 14 of his relatives. Images from the area showed the strikes hitting followed by thick plumes of smoke.
Israel’s army did not immediately respond to questions regarding the strikes.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organisations reported a significant increase in the number of people leaving Gaza City due to the intensifying conflict and calls for evacuation. However, many families remain behind, either unable to afford transportation or housing, or distrustful of the safety of any location within the enclave.
On social media, Israel’s army urged those still in Gaza City to evacuate “immediately” and head south to what it has designated as a humanitarian zone. Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that over a quarter of the people fled Gaza City, which had an estimated population of 1 million in the northern Gaza area.
In contrast, the United Nations estimated that around 100,000 people had left between mid-August and mid-September. Aid organisations have warned that the large-scale displacement is worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis, with overcrowded shelters in southern Gaza. Many displaced people have no money to move, further exacerbating their suffering.
The UN reported that more than 86,000 tents and other supplies were still awaiting clearance to enter as of last week.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that in the last 24 hours, seven people, including children, died from malnutrition, pushing the death toll from such causes to 420, with 145 of the victims being children, since the war began.
Israel’s military operations have led to the deaths of at least 64,803 Palestinians, with approximately half of the casualties being women and children. The war has left large parts of Gaza’s major cities in ruins, and around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2 million has been displaced.
