The Gaza Government Media Office said on Thursday that Israeli military forces had carried out 34 airstrikes over the previous 24 hours, resulting in a death toll of 71, including the head of the enclave’s police force and his deputy.
Israeli attacks were reported across the besieged enclave, including in the so-called humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi and northern Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, which has been bombed repeatedly in recent days.
Palestinians have also been killed and wounded in attacks in the Remal and Shujayea neighborhoods of Gaza City and the city of az-Zawayda, in the central Gaza Strip.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), says Israel’s deadly attack on the al-Mawasi displacement camp in southern Gaza is another signal to end the war.
“At the beginning of the year, we received reports of another attack in al-Mawasi with dozens of people killed, another reminder that there is no humanitarian zone, much less a safe zone (in Gaza),” he said. “Every day without a ceasefire will bring more tragedy.”
Asked about the death toll reported on Thursday, an Israeli army spokesman said the army followed international law in the conduct of the war in Gaza and that it takes “possible precautions to mitigate civilian harm”.
Photojournalist Hassan al-Qishaoui was among those killed on Thursday. At least 217 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
