Another 81 people killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza

Palestinian Territories – AFP

Another 81 people were killed in overnight strikes, including in the main southern city of Khan Younis, said the health ministry in Gaza on Wednesday.

Just before midnight on Tuesday, witnesses reported strikes on the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, sparking panic among the hundreds of displaced people seeking shelter there.

Earlier in the day, residents of the city sifted through the rubble from strikes as trucks and carts stacked high with displaced families’ possessions rolled down the street.

“You can see the destruction. This room was inhabited by people, this one was inhabited by 20 children, women and men, and the same thing goes for the neighbouring houses in the whole camp,” resident Mohamad Ramadan told AFP, gesturing at a destroyed home where he said several people had been killed.

“These men can still find some of their body parts, nothing but remains torn apart,” he added.

In Tel Aviv, anti-war protesters scuffled with police on Tuesday night, as some held up signs reading “End the siege” and “Stop the genocide”.

“The occupation leads to bloodshed, and it continues incessantly. The children growing up now in Gaza are the ones who will confront us in a few years,” protester Chava Lerman told AFP.

“Civilians are getting killed by the Israeli bombings,” said fellow protester Michal Sapri. “It leads to nothing. Our hostages are still there. We’re not going to release them (through) more military power.”

The Israeli public has kept up intense pressure on Netanyahu’s government to secure the return of the Israelis held by Hamas, with officials repeatedly insisting military pressure is necessary to bring about any kind of deal.