Deadly attacks hit residential areas as truce talks remain stalled and humanitarian crisis deepens.
Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings in Gaza City killed at least 11 people overnight, including women and children, according to Palestinian health officials and local residents.
The strikes targeted homes in densely populated neighbourhoods, levelling several multi-storey buildings and leaving families trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams and civil defence workers continued to search through the debris on Friday morning amid ongoing fears of further strikes.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that at least 11 bodies had been recovered so far, with several others injured. The ministry warned that the death toll could rise as operations continue in the rubble.
Deadly Overnight Strikes Rock Gaza:
The scene showed extensive destruction, with entire floors of apartment buildings collapsed and streets filled with concrete and twisted metal. Survivors described sudden explosions that shook their homes in the middle of the night, forcing many to flee with whatever belongings they could carry.
One resident, speaking to local media, said: “We were sleeping when the house next to us was hit. Everything was shaking. We ran out carrying the children in the dark.”
The attacks come as Israeli forces continue operations across the Gaza Strip, with claims of targeting militant infrastructure. However, Palestinian officials and rights groups have repeatedly accused Israel of striking civilian areas with little or no warning.
The latest violence erupts as indirect negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal appear to have stalled. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to broker an agreement, but deep disagreements remain over the terms, including the duration of any pause and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
In recent weeks, Israeli strikes have intensified in several areas of Gaza, contributing to a rising civilian death toll. The ongoing military campaign has displaced hundreds of thousands and pushed the besieged territory into what humanitarian organisations describe as a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with severe shortages of food, medicine and shelter.
International concern grows:
The United Nations and several countries have called for an immediate de-escalation and protection of civilians. Human rights organisations have urged investigations into possible violations of international law in the repeated targeting of residential areas.
Israel has maintained that it takes measures to minimise civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure for military purposes-a claim strongly denied by Palestinian factions.