Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least seven Palestinians and wound dozens

Strikes across Gaza City

Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday hit multiple locations in Gaza City, killing civilians and destroying residential property. In an attack near the al-Shifa Medical Complex, warplanes struck a residential apartment, killing one woman and wounding her husband along with several other occupants. The Israeli military stated that the operation targeted a Hamas militant who was planning attacks against Israeli forces.

In the southwestern neighbourhood of Tel al-Hawa, an Israeli drone strike hit a passenger vehicle, killing between four and six people. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that emergency teams transported 13 wounded individuals to al-Quds Hospital, while overall injury figures from the strike reached 14 with multiple victims in critical condition. The Israeli military stated that the vehicle strike targeted a member of a militant group, with further details pending.

Southern attacks and journalist death

Military operations also expanded into southern and central regions of the enclave on Wednesday. An airstrike near a mosque in Khan Younis killed local journalist Mohammad Al-Najar and injured several nearby bystanders. Later in the day, an additional airstrike near the town of Qarara killed another person, raising the total confirmed death toll across the territory for the day to at least seven.

Medical facilities in Khan Younis also treated a Palestinian wounded by Israeli gunfire in an area located outside Israeli-controlled zones, while Israeli tanks directed heavy fire toward the southern districts of the city. In central Gaza, two people suffered serious injuries from Israeli forces southeast of Deir el-Balah. Additionally, an Israeli drone strike on a shelter for displaced persons in southern Gaza wounded four people, including two children.

Stalled ceasefire negotiations and toll

The latest casualties occurred under an increasingly strained United States-brokered ceasefire agreed in October of last year. Israel stated that it stepped up military operations in recent weeks because Hamas continues to rearm and launch attacks in violation of the accord. Hamas denied rebuilding its arsenal or attempting new operations, accusing Israel of actively undermining the truce agreement.

Diplomatic efforts have yielded little progress on the broader terms of the deal, which called for the eventual reconstruction of the enclave. Negotiations remain deadlocked over provisions requiring Hamas to disarm and the Israeli military to withdraw its forces. According to data compiled by Gaza health officials, at least 1,400 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire went into effect, with the Ministry of Health putting the total at 1,431 killed and 5,026 wounded as of Wednesday morning. Israel reported four soldier deaths during the same period. Since October 2023, Palestinian authorities record over 74,000 deaths in Gaza, following the Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel.

Medical conditions in the enclave

Hospitals across the territory continue to face severe operational shortages while treating continuous influxes of trauma patients. The Ministry of Health noted that nine bodies arrived at medical facilities within the preceding 24 hours, while 31 newly wounded patients required emergency care. Local doctors cited by journalists on the ground reported that critical cases remain difficult to stabilize due to widespread destruction of healthcare infrastructure and restrictions on medical supplies.

Reporting from Gaza City on the deteriorating humanitarian conditions, Hind Khoudary described the situation confronting medical personnel and local residents.

Doctors say it's difficult to save the lives of the wounded because the health system is decimated by years of Israeli attacks and the blockade.

Khoudary noted that ongoing military strikes have left residents living in fear during daily activities across the enclave.

There is supposed to be a ceasefire in Gaza, but the Israeli army's violence is endless. Every day, Palestinians are killed, injured, and the humanitarian situation is deteriorating.