Israeli forces intensified their bombing campaign in central Gaza on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least eight Palestinians in the Al-Nuseirat camp area. Simultaneously, fierce fighting continued in Rafah city in the south, where health officials reported another five residents killed.
Escalation Of Conflict
Into the tenth month of war, Israel’s aerial and tank shelling of central Gaza has increased over the past week, causing numerous casualties. Residents reported that the Israeli army destroyed dozens of homes in the area over the last three days.
Casualties in Al-Nuseirat: Palestinian health officials confirmed that eight people were killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes on houses in Al-Nuseirat on Friday.
Fighting in Rafah: In Rafah, Israeli forces aim to dismantle the last battalions of Hamas’ armed wing. Residents reported hearing intense gun battles in central and western parts of the city. Medics stated that five people were killed by Israeli fire, with their bodies taken to Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis city.
Humanitarian Impact
The Al-Mawasi area, designated as a humanitarian safe zone by the Israeli army, has also come under attack. Residents, including displaced Palestinians who moved there for safety, reported deadly strikes.
Aziza Suleiman Ammar, a widowed Palestinian woman, lamented the lack of safety, “They told us al-Mawasi was safe… There is no place in Gaza that is safe. They are the ones who told us to go to al-Mawasi in Khan Younis. We came according to what they said, and they hit us also in the camp.”
Rising Death Toll
The conflict has caused a significant number of casualties. Mawasi, located on the outskirts of Khan Younis, shelters hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled there after Israel declared it a safe zone. Israel asserts that its attacks are “intelligence-based” and aimed at militant leaders, with precautions taken to avoid civilian harm—a claim Palestinians dispute.
Statements from Leadership: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Israeli troops near Rafah, stating that military pressure combined with efforts to secure the release of 120 hostages held in Gaza was yielding results. “This double pressure is not delaying the (ceasefire) deal, it is advancing it,” he said.
Ceasefire Efforts
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, led by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. support, have stalled due to disagreements between the warring sides, each blaming the other for the impasse.
Casualty Figures:
Israeli Casualties: 326 soldiers killed in Gaza.
Palestinian Casualties: At least 38,848 Palestinians killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive since the war began, according to Gaza health authorities.
Recent Developments
On Tuesday, Israel claimed to have eliminated half of Hamas’ military leadership and killed or captured about 14,000 fighters since the conflict started. Hamas disputes these figures, accusing Israel of exaggerating to claim a “fake victory.”
The situation remains highly volatile, with ongoing military actions and humanitarian concerns deeply affecting the region.
With Inputs from Reuters
