New Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Claim Lives Amid Second Day of Eid Holiday

Israeli airstrikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people on Thursday, occurring during the second day of the Islamic holiday of Eid-el-Fitr, according to reports from local medical sources. The strikes, carried out by Israeli fighter jets, targeted a marketplace in central Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals and numerous injuries. Additionally, two others were killed in Israeli shelling of the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Witnesses reported further casualties feared in an Israeli airstrike near Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, where Israeli warplanes also targeted two houses. The Israeli Army’s operations in the Gaza Strip have intensified since a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, resulting in significant casualties and damage.

The ongoing conflict has taken a heavy toll on the region, with more than 33,500 people killed and over 76,000 others injured. This has led to widespread destruction, displacement, and a looming humanitarian crisis, with the population of over 2 million in Gaza facing the threat of famine. Israel has faced accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, prompting calls for the cessation of genocidal acts and the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. Meanwhile, former Israeli Justice Minister Haim Ramon acknowledged strategic setbacks in Gaza, despite what he termed as tactical victories, highlighting the failure to achieve government objectives, including the elimination of Hamas and the release of hostages.