Palestinian health authorities reported on Monday that Israeli military airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 21 people, as Israeli forces intensified their ground and aerial offensive in Rafah near the Egyptian border.
Officials stated that since Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza last Tuesday—following weeks of relative calm after a January ceasefire—nearly 700 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 400 women and children.
Hamas acknowledged that several of its senior political and security officials were among those killed. Meanwhile, Israel justified its renewed military action by citing efforts to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages still held in Gaza.
Israel maintains that it aims to minimize civilian casualties and has questioned the reported death tolls provided by Gaza’s health authorities.
“But when Hamas fights in civilian dress, from civilian homes, and from behind civilians, it puts civilians in danger, and they pay a horrible price. That is why we are urging Gazans to evacuate combat zones,” Israeli defense minister Katz said on X.
Hamas, however, denied using civilians or civilian properties for military purposes.
In Rafah, the local municipality expressed concerns over the dire humanitarian situation, stating that thousands of people were trapped in Tel Al-Sultan, where Israeli forces had been deployed.
“Contacts with the neighborhood are cut off completely, and the fate of [people] is unknown. Families are trapped among the ruins, with no water, no food, no medicine, amid a total collapse of healthcare services,” the municipality said in a statement.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people—mostly civilians—were killed, and more than 250 others were taken hostage.
