Israeli Strikes Kill 23 in Gaza, Including Children

GAZA CITY, :At least 23 people were killed across the Gaza Strip on Saturday amid ongoing Israeli military operations, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Among the dead were at least three children who lost their lives in an airstrike targeting a residential home in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza.

Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP that dozens more were wounded in Israeli air and ground assaults carried out across the territory.

“At least 23 dead and dozens of wounded were taken to hospitals after Israeli firing and raids across Gaza,” Bassal said.

Footage obtained by AFP from Gaza City showed grieving family members mourning over the bodies of children killed in the Jabalia airstrike. Bassal reported that 21 people died in six separate strikes conducted by Israeli drones and warplanes, while two others were fatally shot while waiting for humanitarian aid in the central Netzarim zone.

The Israeli military has not issued a comment regarding the reported casualties.

Due to Israeli restrictions on press access and the ongoing conflict, independent verification of casualty figures and incident details remains challenging.

The latest casualties come as Israel intensifies its military campaign in Gaza, following a brief 12-day conflict with Iran that ended in a ceasefire on June 24. The Israeli military has stated that it will now refocus efforts on operations in Gaza, where Palestinian militants are believed to still be holding Israeli hostages.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after a deadly attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli government figures compiled by AFP.

In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 56,412 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry. The United Nations has deemed these figures credible.

By Taiwo Olatinwo/ June 28, 2025