Israel intensifies Gaza strikes, with at least 40 killed
Many residents in the besieged ruins of Gaza City are staying, despite evacuation orders, as they have nowhere safe to go
Israeli strikes killed at least 40 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Friday, local health authorities said, most of them in Gaza City where many residents are staying put despite Israeli evacuation orders because they have nowhere safe to go.
Israel has stated its intention to take full control of the ruined city, where about a million people are sheltering, as part of its plan to wipe out the militant group Hamas, and has been intensifying its attacks, residents said.
“The explosions never stopped since yesterday,” said father-of-two Adel, 60, who lives in Gaza City close to Beach refugee camp. He did not wish to give his full name for safety reasons.
“Many families left their homes and that is what the occupation wants,” he told Reuters via a chat app. “By these bombardments they are telling people ‘You either leave your area or die there.’”
Witnesses said at least 15 houses inside Beach camp had been hit by air strikes, and the Israeli army had since called the occupants of other houses telling them strikes on their homes were imminent. They were now scrambling to leave, and neighbours feared their own homes would be damaged.
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Medical sources said 14 civilians were killed in a single strike on a house in the Al-Tuwam area, in the north of the city.