Israeli Airstrikes Kill 11 Palestinians in Gaza amid Severe Weather

Israeli airstrikes and shelling have killed 11 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with three separate attacks reported in the northern parts of the enclave.

According to the Wafa news agency, six people, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike on the az-Zarqa area.

Three others died, and several others were injured in an attack on the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. Two more were killed and several others wounded during Israeli shelling in Gaza's Zeitoun neighborhood.

Overnight, northern Gaza experienced heavy bombardment, particularly in the Sheikh Radwan district of Gaza City, where four people were killed in their home. The casualties were taken to al-Ahli Hospital, though paramedics faced challenges due to severe damage to infrastructure.

There is also an acute shortage of medical supplies at the hospital, worsening the situation for those injured.

Israeli warplanes also bombed a home near the an-Nazla primary school in Jabalia, though the exact number of casualties is still unclear.

Further shelling targeted Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood, adding to the mounting death toll.

Witnesses reported that Israeli forces are still active in Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip, where ongoing battles with Hamas resistance fighters have resulted in additional casualties.

The Israeli military has issued fresh evacuation orders for Beit Lahiya, citing the area’s imminent transformation into an active war zone.

In addition to the violence, severe weather has compounded the suffering of Palestinians. Heavy rainfall and rising tides have flooded more than 10,000 makeshift shelters in Gaza, affecting thousands of displaced people.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric noted that aid agencies have struggled to prepare for the rainy season due to severe restrictions on supplies entering the enclave.

He added that areas such as Khan Younis and Gaza City have been particularly affected, with thousands of displaced people facing the destruction of their shelters.

As winter storms continue, many people are seeking refuge in overcrowded mosques and evacuation centers, while others remain in their damaged tents, increasing their vulnerability to disease.

Meanwhile, Israeli military operations continue in southern Rafah, with no sign of a let-up after more than six months of activity in the area.

The ongoing Israeli war has resulted in the destruction of numerous historic sites across Gaza, with rights groups accusing Israel of carrying out a “cultural genocide.”

The Great Omari Mosque in Gaza City, for example, was severely damaged in a December airstrike, marking the destruction of over 200 historic sites in the region.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed at least 44,235 Palestinians and wounded 104,638 since October 7, 2023.