GAZA CITY: GAZA CITY: Israeli airstrikes on several homes in Gaza on Monday killed at least 18 people, according to local medics and rescue workers, as the death toll soared to more than 41,226 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in the ongoing Israeli bombardments since October 7.
The Israeli attacks occurred as tensions continued to escalate in the region, with Hamas asserting that it has the resources to sustain its fight nearly a year into the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli strikes targeted multiple locations, including the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where an airstrike hit the home of the Al-Qassas family, killing ten people and injuring 15 others. “My house was hit while we were sleeping without any prior warning. There are many martyrs, among them the sons of my family and my little grandsons,” said Rashed al-Qassas, a survivor of the attack.
Similarly, six Palestinians were killed in a night raid on a house belonging to the Bassal family in Gaza City’s Zeitun neighborhood, and two others died in a separate strike on a house in Rafah belonging to the Abu Shaar family.
Since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, Israel’s relentless bombardment campaign has resulted in the deaths of at least 41,226 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The violence has also extended beyond Gaza, drawing in armed groups from Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
Hamas, through senior official Osama Hamdan, claimed it had the capability to continue the fight. Speaking from Istanbul, Hamdan said, “The resistance has a high ability to continue.”
His comments followed Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant’s recent assertion that Hamas no longer functions as a cohesive military force in Gaza.
On the northern front, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have heightened. Gallant warned that prospects for a ceasefire with Hezbollah were diminishing, citing the group’s continued affiliation with Hamas.
Gallant reiterated Israel’s commitment to eliminating Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon and ensuring the safe return of Israeli residents to their homes.
Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been engaged in near-daily cross-border skirmishes since October 7. The group’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, stated that while Hezbollah does not intend to escalate into full-scale war, any such action from Israel would lead to substantial losses on both sides.
The cross-border clashes have resulted in 623 deaths in Lebanon, and at least 50 deaths in Israel.
Meanwhile, tensions have also been fueled by regional actors. Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for a rare missile attack on central Israel on Sunday, which provoked strong retaliatory threats from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Houthis, who have previously targeted Israeli interests in solidarity with Palestinians, stated that they are prepared to escalate their operations as long as the conflict in Gaza persists.
In a televised address, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi vowed to continue the group’s operations, stating, “Our operations will continue as long as the aggression and siege on Gaza continue.”
