Israeli airstrikes also killed at least 48 more Palestinians in Gaza on Thursday as the bombardment raged over the devastated territory. Local health officials said that victims included women and children, a number of whom became trapped in their homes when the strikes occurred. And the death toll rises every day as Gaza neighborhoods turn into scenes of destruction and grief.
Residents said warplanes had struck in several areas, where displaced families were sheltered. Whole buildings collapsed, with people trapped in the rubble. With their bare hands, survivors looked for loved ones as rescue workers sought to reach them. Hospitals, which were already overwhelmed and undersupplied, took in dozens of people within hours. Doctors said they had run out of medicines, equipment and even electricity to treat the injured.
Israel, while stating that it was targeting Hamas infrastructure with its operations, said it had killed just 10 children among the more than 150 militants in the Gaza Strip; civilians on the ground said most of those killed were in residential buildings or shelters. Many families that had fled previous bombings were disproportionately targeted once more. “We have no fear, we are already homeless,” another survivor sobs in front of the ruins of her home.
