Israeli forces have left a trail of death and destruction after advancing deeper into various parts of the Gaza Strip and continuing their relentless air and artillery strikes on the blockaded territory.
Residents and witnesses reported that Israeli forces pushed further on Sunday into the Shujayea neighborhood of northern Gaza City, as well as several districts in the east, west, and center of Rafah city. Israeli tanks, which moved back into Shujayea four days ago, have been firing shells at houses and civilian infrastructure.
Many families remain trapped in Shujayea as Israel's military continues to bombard the area with air and artillery strikes. Videos circulating on social media show widespread destruction, with bombed-out buildings and rubble lining the streets amid a haze of smoke.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reports that 65,000 Palestinians have been able to evacuate, but many are still trapped. Those attempting to leave face danger from Israeli quadcopters and drones shooting at people as they exit their homes.
In one of the latest strikes, at least six Palestinians were killed and many others wounded after Israeli warplanes targeted a house in a residential area of Rafah. Reports indicate that at least 15 people were killed in the north after their homes were directly hit by artillery shells. In the al-Daraj neighborhood of central Gaza City, one person was killed and another injured in an airstrike.
In the al-Mawasi district, declared a "safe zone" by Israel's military, Israeli forces have been setting fire to makeshift tent camps sheltering displaced Palestinians. The intensified attacks on Shujayea have displaced at least 60,000 people.
The armed wing of the Hamas resistance movement and the allied Islamic Jihad reported fierce fighting in both Shujayea and Rafah, with fighters firing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, a 9-year-old Palestinian died from malnutrition and dehydration. David Wightwick, CEO of UK-Med, a UK-based medical charity, described the health situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" due to the lack of supplies needed to treat the hundreds of patients in field clinics. Medical supplies have become scarce since Israeli forces captured the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and restricted the transport of aid.
The Israeli aggression on Gaza began in early October last year, and since then, more than 37,800 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 87,000 injured. The conflict continues to claim more lives as relentless strikes and shelling persist.
