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An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City on Wednesday has resulted in significant casualties, with health officials reporting multiple deaths and many others missing under the debris. The Israeli military has claimed the operation was aimed at a Hamas operative it believes is involved in planning attacks, but has yet to release further details about the individual.
According to Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza's civil defense, rescuers have recovered 23 bodies, among them eight children, while approximately 20 individuals remain unaccounted for. The airstrike has completely obliterated eight homes in the Shajaiye neighborhood, an area already struggling with the fallout from previous strikes. This neighborhood had also been a refuge for families displaced from other parts of Gaza.
The Israeli military insists it has complied with protocols designed to minimize civilian casualties, utilizing aerial surveillance and other intelligence to inform their operations. However, a recent New York Times investigation indicated that the military has relaxed previous restrictions on the number of civilians that can be endangered during airstrikes. Experts in international law remind that Israel is still obligated to protect civilian lives, a point of contention in this ongoing conflict.
Rescue operations are further complicated by a lack of equipment, as Gazan civil defense teams struggle to navigate the rubble. Their efforts to reach survivors have been hampered, amplifying the urgency of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region amidst continued hostilities.
An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City on Wednesday has resulted in significant casualties, with health officials reporting multiple deaths and many others missing under the debris. The Israeli military has claimed the operation was aimed at a Hamas operative it believes is involved in planning attacks, but has yet to release further details about the individual.
According to Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza's civil defense, rescuers have recovered 23 bodies, among them eight children, while approximately 20 individuals remain unaccounted for. The airstrike has completely obliterated eight homes in the Shajaiye neighborhood, an area already struggling with the fallout from previous strikes. This neighborhood had also been a refuge for families displaced from other parts of Gaza.
The Israeli military insists it has complied with protocols designed to minimize civilian casualties, utilizing aerial surveillance and other intelligence to inform their operations. However, a recent New York Times investigation indicated that the military has relaxed previous restrictions on the number of civilians that can be endangered during airstrikes. Experts in international law remind that Israel is still obligated to protect civilian lives, a point of contention in this ongoing conflict.
Rescue operations are further complicated by a lack of equipment, as Gazan civil defense teams struggle to navigate the rubble. Their efforts to reach survivors have been hampered, amplifying the urgency of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region amidst continued hostilities.
