Gaza City: Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on Saturday claimed the lives of at least 22 Palestinians, according to Palestinian medics. The Israeli military reported targeting gunmen and weapon caches concealed within shelters and aid storage facilities.
A significant attack near the municipality building in Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza, killed 10 individuals, medics said. The area was crowded with people waiting for aid distribution. Casualties were transported to hospitals by foot, on rickshaws, and private vehicles. Among the deceased was Diab Ali al-Jaru, head of the Hamas-run administrative committee in central Gaza and the mayor of Deir Al-Balah, a Hamas source confirmed.
The Israeli military acknowledged the airstrike, stating al-Jaru had assisted Hamas militants. Another four individuals were killed in a separate strike in the same area.
Earlier, Israeli aircraft targeted militants and arms storage near an aid warehouse, citing retaliatory action for rockets fired from Gaza into Israel on Friday. On Saturday, another rocket was launched from Gaza, the military reported.
In Gaza City, a former shelter housing displaced individuals was also struck, with the Israeli military claiming Hamas fighters were targeted. Palestinian medics reported seven deaths, including a woman and her baby.
Unverified Casualty Details
International news agency Reuters stated it could not confirm if any casualties were combatants. Hamas has not disclosed its losses, and the Palestinian health ministry’s reports do not differentiate between combatants and civilians.
The Israeli military emphasized its efforts to minimize civilian harm during operations.
Journalist Among the Dead
Mohammed Baalousha, a local journalist working for Dubai Al Mashhad television, was killed in an airstrike in Gaza City, according to health officials. The Israeli military is investigating the incident.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 137 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza during over a year of conflict.
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Background and Broader Conflict
The conflict escalated after Hamas militants launched an assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel’s subsequent military offensive, encompassing air, sea, and land attacks, has resulted in nearly 45,000 deaths, mostly civilians, displaced nearly the entire Gaza population, and devastated infrastructure.
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Diplomatic Efforts for Ceasefire
Diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire are gaining traction, with Egypt, Qatar, and the United States involved. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with U.S. officials on Saturday to discuss a potential ceasefire and a hostages-for-prisoners deal, according to Sisi’s office.
