Israel Kills Dozens in Gaza, Deploys Tanks to Southern Regions, According to Medics

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO (Reuters) – Israeli airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 60 Palestinians overnight, including individuals in a school that was providing shelter for displaced families, according to medics. This escalation occurred as Israeli tanks advanced into areas of Khan Younis in the southern part of the enclave.

Israeli tanks conducted operations in multiple locations within eastern and central Khan Younis before partially withdrawing, leaving at least 40 dead and dozens injured, as reported by the official Voice of Palestine radio and Hamas affiliates.

In Gaza City, medics reported that at least 22 Palestinians lost their lives due to Israeli strikes. One attack on a school sheltering displaced families claimed the lives of 17 individuals, while another strike on the Al-Amal Orphan Society, which also housed displaced persons, resulted in at least five additional fatalities.

This violence follows Iran’s launch of a series of ballistic missiles aimed at Israel in retaliation for its actions against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon. In response, Israel has pledged a "painful response" to its adversaries.

Amidst the ongoing conflict which has lasted nearly a year, Palestinians in Gaza celebrated as they witnessed numerous rockets fired towards Israel. While some of these rockets fell within Gaza after being intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, witnesses reported no human casualties from these incidents.

Hezbollah began launching rockets into Israel nearly a year ago in support of Hamas amid the conflict in Gaza, which ignited following a devastating assault by Hamas on October 7, marking the most lethal attack in Israeli history.

This assault, claimed by Israel to have resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and over 250 hostages taken, triggered the war that has severely impacted Gaza, displacing the majority of its 2.3 million residents and leading to over 41,600 deaths, according to local health authorities.

(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Editing by William Maclean)