An Israeli airstrike on Thursday struck a house sheltering displaced families in central Gaza, killing at least 11 people and leaving several others missing or seriously wounded, according to emergency officials. The strike targeted a home north of Al-Zawaida, where people had sought refuge from weeks of intensified bombardments, and several children were reported among the dead, with their bodies transferred to nearby hospitals.
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The attack comes as Israel escalates its offensive across Gaza, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to abandon their homes in search of safety. Local civil defence teams said rescue operations were underway to find those trapped beneath the rubble, although limited equipment and fuel shortages continue to hinder their efforts. Families have described the relentless airstrikes as devastating, saying they are left with nowhere to turn.
Over the course of nearly two years, Israeli military operations have killed more than 65,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to health authorities in Gaza. The United Nations has described these figures as credible, while also warning that the humanitarian situation is worsening by the day. In contrast, the war was initially triggered by the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, which left 1,219 Israelis dead, most of them civilians.
The offensive on Gaza has drawn growing international scrutiny, particularly after a UN probe recently accused Israel of committing genocide, pointing to statements made by senior Israeli officials. Israel strongly rejected the report, calling the findings “distorted and false,” and continues to defend its operations as acts of self-defence against Hamas militants embedded within civilian areas.
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Meanwhile, large parts of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, with entire neighbourhoods wiped out and famine officially declared in parts of the territory last month. Civilians describe their lives as unbearable, facing hunger, illness, and constant fear. “We lost our children, our homes and our places,” said Najia Abu Amsha, a grieving Palestinian woman, adding that many families feel abandoned and pushed into desperation.