Fri Dec 13 02:32:13 UTC 2024: ## Israeli Strike Kills Dozens in Gaza Refugee Camp, Raising Civilian Death Toll
**GAZA CITY, October 26, 2024** – An Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza has killed at least 33 Palestinians, many from the same family, Palestinian authorities reported Thursday. The attack, described as a “barbaric and heinous massacre” by the Gaza Government Media Office, targeted a postal office sheltering displaced families and nearby residential buildings. Witnesses reported seeing young children covered in dust and blood amidst the rubble. Approximately 50 more were wounded in the strike.
The incident is the latest in a series of devastating attacks across the Gaza Strip, which has seen over 44,800 Palestinians killed since the conflict began in October 2023, more than half of whom were women and children. The Gaza Government Media Office reports that Israeli strikes have completely destroyed at least 902 families in the past year. The office also claims that Israel is deliberately targeting the Gaza health system, hindering the entry of essential medical supplies. This was underscored by the death of Dr. Saeed Jouda, a top doctor, who was shot while en route to treat patients in Jabalia refugee camp. An estimated 1,057 healthcare workers have been killed since the conflict began.
The Israeli military has yet to comment on Thursday’s attack. However, Israel frequently claims, with little evidence, that targeted structures are being used by Hamas. This pattern of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and shelters for displaced persons, has been widely condemned by international observers.
A report released Thursday by Airwars, a group that monitors civilian casualties in air strikes, labeled Israel’s campaign in Gaza as “by far the most intense, destructive, and fatal conflict for civilians” in its history. The report found that the civilian death toll in the first month of the conflict was nearly four times higher than in any other conflict documented by Airwars since 2014. Experts warn that the actual death toll is likely significantly higher due to the difficulties in accessing and documenting casualties amidst the widespread destruction. The ongoing conflict and the high civilian death toll continue to raise serious concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
First Piper 