About 13 killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza

2024-11-09 14:34:46, Kosova & Bota CNA

Palestinian health officials announced that at least 13 people were killed in two strikes by the Israeli army in Gaza.

Gaza's Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, said one of the attacks hit a school serving as a shelter in the Tufah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, killing at least six people.

Authorities said seven people were killed in another attack on a camp in the southern city of Khan Younis.

The Israeli military said the attacks targeted a militant from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.

Also, on Saturday, Israel announced the first humanitarian shipment to northern Gaza since the new military campaign in the area began last month. The announcement comes days before a deadline set by the United States for Israel to improve the distribution of humanitarian aid across Gaza.

Experts have warned that it is highly likely that parts of northern Gaza will soon face starvation.

Israel's new offensive is focused on the Jabaliya refugee camp, where Israel says Hamas has regrouped. The offensive also extends to the Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun regions, north of Gaza City.

According to the United Nations, there are tens of thousands of people in these areas. At the beginning of this week, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said that neither ambulances nor emergency teams are currently operating in the north of the city.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began, the Israeli army has struck several schools and camps, filled with tens of thousands of Palestinians who have fled their homes as a result of Israeli attacks or evacuation orders. According to the UN, 90 percent of Palestinians in Gaza have been displaced as a result of the conflict.

The military has repeatedly accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools, UN facilities and hospitals.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has left more than 43,000 dead, Palestinian health officials say. In these data they do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but say that more than half of those killed were women and children. The war began after Palestinian militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli authorities, during the attack the militants killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped 250 others./ VOA