Israel Strikes Gaza, Killing 39 Palestinians in 24-Hour Assault
Palestinian civil defence agency accuses Israeli forces of carrying out summary executions of 15 rescue workers last month
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Israeli air and artillery attacks killed at least 39 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian Health Ministry.
Another 62 people were wounded as strikes targeted civilian homes, markets, and shelters from north to south.
The deadly escalation began early Monday, with 11 people killed by Israeli strikes in various areas.
In Khan Younis, a man and his wife were killed in their tent, while five more died in a residential strike. In Deir al-Balah, a vegetable vendor was killed at his stall.
A drone strike east of Rafah killed two children, and in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood, a father and child died in an airstrike. In northern Beit Lahia, artillery fire claimed another life.
The toll follows Sunday’s bloodshed, when at least 28 Palestinians, many in displacement shelters, were killed.
Since Israel resumed its offensive after ending a temporary ceasefire on March 18, at least 1,864 Palestinians have died — including 595 children and 308 women — and nearly 4,900 have been wounded, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reports.
International outrage intensified Monday after far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that securing the release of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza was “not the most important thing.”
Families of the prisoners condemned the comment as “shameful” and accused the Israeli government of abandoning their loved ones.
The Gaza civil defence agency has also accused Israeli forces of carrying out summary executions of 15 rescue workers last month, rejecting an Israeli army probe that denied the claim.
“The video filmed by one of the paramedics proves that the Israeli occupation’s narrative is false and demonstrates that it carried out summary executions,” Mohammed al-Mughair, a civil defense official, told media outlets.
He also accused Israel of seeking to “circumvent” its obligations under international law.
Public sentiment in Israel appears divided.
A new poll by the Kantar Institute shows that 56% of Israelis support a deal to end the war in exchange for the release of Israeli and Palestinian prisoners.
According to Health Ministry, 51,240 Palestinians have been confirmed killed and 116,931 wounded since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza 18 months ago.
The Government Media Office says the true death toll exceeds 61,700, accounting for thousands believed to be buried under rubble.
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