GAZA - At least 19 people have been killed in overnight Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. The information was reported today by the local civil defence, citing AFP. The strikes are believed to have hit multiple areas in the south and centre of the Palestinian enclave, which has been the scene of heavy fighting between the Israeli army and the radical Hamas movement since last October.
According to Palestinian medical sources, the victims included women and children. Rescue workers continued to search for survivors under the rubble of destroyed buildings in the morning. Among the worst affected areas was the town of Rafah, where Israeli fighter jets reportedly targeted residential neighbourhoods. Eyewitnesses described widespread damage and chaos. The Israeli army did not comment immediately on the incidents, but has repeatedly stated in the past that Hamas infrastructure, weapons depots and underground tunnels have been targeted. Critics, however, point out that the repeated airstrikes have had a devastating impact on the civilian population.
Tensions in the region have been ongoing for more than seven months. The conflict has flared up again following an attack by Hamas on Israeli territory in which hundreds of people were killed. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza. According to the UN, the population of the Gaza Strip is facing a humanitarian catastrophe, with shortages of food, medicine and basic sanitation. The international community continues to call for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians. Negotiations on a possible ceasefire have not yet yielded concrete results.
gnews.cz - GH
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