Medical sources told Al Jazeera on Thursday that at least 63 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza government media office gave a higher figure, saying 71 people were killed, including the enclave’s police chief and his deputy, after Israeli forces launched 34 airstrikes in the past 24 hours.
Israeli attacks were reported across the warring enclave, including the so-called humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi and the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, which has been repeatedly bombed in recent days.
Palestinians were also killed and wounded in attacks on Gaza City’s Remal and Shujaya neighborhoods, and the town of As-Zawaida in central Gaza.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA), said Israel’s deadly attack on Almawashi camp for displaced persons in southern Gaza was another signal for an end to the war.
“As the year began, we received reports of further attacks on al-Mawashi, in which dozens of people were killed. This was another reminder that there is no safe or even humanitarian zone[in Gaza],” he said. said. “Without a ceasefire, there will be more tragedies every day.”
Asked about the reported death toll on Thursday, an Israeli military spokesperson said the military was conducting the Gaza war in accordance with international law and had taken “feasible precautions to reduce civilian casualties.” He said there was.
Photojournalist Hassan al-Kishawi was among those killed on Thursday. At least 217 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
