Israeli attacks kill 88 Palestinians in 24 hours

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that 88 people were killed in the Palestinian territory in the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll of the war to 45,805.

The ministry also said in a statement that at least 109,064 people had been wounded in nearly 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the Palestinian group's October 7, 2023 attack.

At least 17 of those who died were killed in airstrikes on two houses in Gaza City, the first of which destroyed the home of the Al-Ghoula family in the early hours, medics and residents said.

"At about 2 a.m. we were woken up by the sound of a huge explosion," said Ahmed Ayyan, a neighbour, adding that 14 or 15 people had been staying in the house.

"Most of them are women and children, they are all civilians, there is no one there who shot missiles, or is from the resistance," Ayyan told Reuters.

A boy mourns as he sits by the bodies of Palestinian victims killed Israeli attacks in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday. AFP

People scoured the rubble for any survivors trapped under the debris and medics said several children were among those killed. A few flames and trails of smoke still rose from burning furniture in the ruins hours after the attack.

The Israeli military said all those "targeted in the strike were involved in terrorist activities, which included exploiting humanitarian aid corridors" and that the strike was carried out at a distance from "aid trucks and did not affect the continued entrance of humanitarian aid."

Earlier on Saturday the military said a projectile fired from Gaza fell in the area of the Erez Crossing which "caused damage both to the area of the crossing and adjacent to the humanitarian truck compound."

Another strike on a house in Gaza City killed five people later on Saturday, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said, adding that at least 10 others were feared trapped under the rubble.

Women mourn their relatives who were killed by Israeli bombardment outside the Aqsa Martyrs hospital in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. AFP

The Israeli military said earlier its forces had continued their operations this week in Beit Hanoun town in the northern edge of the enclave, where the army has been operating for three months, and has destroyed a military complex that had been used by Hamas.

At least six other Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Jabalia in the north and near the central town of Deir Al-Balah, medics said.

Saturday's deaths brought the toll to 70 since Friday, Palestinian health officials said.

Agencies