Israeli Attacks in Gaza Result in High Casualty Toll, Including Journalists

In a series of attacks on the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have reportedly killed at least 70 people, including five journalists, according to multiple sources. The death toll includes victims of a double strike on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the main healthcare facility in the southern Gaza Strip, which resulted in 20 deaths.

Background

On Monday, Israeli forces launched an attack on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. The attack reportedly claimed at least 20 lives, including five journalists who were attending a meeting via Zoom when the bombardments began. Among the casualties was a two-year-old child.

Key Developments

The Israeli Prime Minister's office described the incident as a tragic mishap, while the Israeli army admitted on Tuesday that the five journalists killed were not members of Hamas or other factions from the Palestinian territory, contradicting initial claims.

The Israeli newspaper 'Haaretz' reported that the death toll from the hospital strike was 14, however, this figure was later revised upwards by Palestinian Civil Defense spokesman, Mahmoud Bassal. According to the Palestine News & Information Agency (Wafa), the death toll for Tuesday rose to 51, and by dawn the following day, it had reached 70.

In addition to the hospital strike, Israeli forces targeted other areas of the Gaza Strip, including a family home in Gaza City, where seven people were killed. In the southern part of Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike near Al-Istijaba Mosque resulted in three more deaths.

Implications and Reactions

The United Nations has called on Israel to investigate the hospital strike and ensure its probes yield results. There needs to be justice, said Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesman for the United Nations rights office, adding that the number of media workers killed raises questions about the targeting of journalists.

The continued Israeli incursion has resulted in extensive destruction in the Gaza Strip, with over 1,000 buildings destroyed in Gaza City's Zaytoun and Sabra neighborhoods, according to Al Jazeera. The bombardment has reportedly trapped hundreds of civilians under rubble and strained emergency services.

Conclusion

The current situation in Gaza continues to escalate as Israeli forces push further into Gaza City, with Palestinian families facing the difficult choice of braving Israel's fierce bombardment at home or being forcibly displaced. Meanwhile, the international community looks on, waiting for accountability measures and the results of investigations into these devastating attacks.