Gaza Conflict Updates: Latest Casualties and Airstrikes
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported on Wednesday that emergency responders have recovered the remains of charred bodies from a school that had been repurposed as a shelter for those displaced by ongoing violence. This grim revelation follows a series of Israeli airstrikes that have resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals in the Hamas-controlled region since dawn. The Israeli military resumed its operations in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire that had significantly diminished hostilities in the area.
Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal provided further details to AFP, highlighting that among the fatalities were women and children, with 11 victims perishing in an airstrike targeting the Yafa school in Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah neighborhood. “The school was housing displaced individuals. The bombing sparked a fierce blaze, leading to the recovery of several charred bodies,” Bassal stated.
Ongoing Displacement Amid Conflict
Since the outbreak of the conflict following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, tens of thousands of residents in Gaza have sought refuge in makeshift shelters such as schools, attempting to evade the relentless violence. Aid organizations have reported that a large portion of Gaza’s 2.4 million inhabitants has been displaced at least once since the war began.
Bassal expressed his concern, noting that his team has been receiving urgent pleas for assistance from various locations throughout Gaza. He lamented the lack of essential tools and equipment necessary for effective rescue operations or the retrieval of those who have perished.
Israeli Military Operations and Their Impact
In a recent statement, the Israeli military claimed to have targeted around 40 “engineering vehicles,” alleging they were being employed for terrorist activities. Bassal remarked that these airstrikes have resulted in the destruction of vital equipment, including bulldozers, which are crucial for clearing debris and retrieving bodies from underneath the rubble, as well as for rescue operations.
The situation in Gaza remains dire as additional fatalities were reported on Wednesday. A child was killed in an airstrike on a residence in the northern Jabalia area, and another individual lost their life in a similar incident in the southern city of Khan Yunis. Moreover, four people were killed due to Israeli shelling of homes in eastern Gaza City, and several others are still believed to be trapped under debris, according to Bassal’s reports.
Death Toll Continues to Rise
The Israeli military has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the most recent airstrikes. Since the renewed military campaign began, at least 1,890 individuals have died in Gaza, escalating the total death toll since the war’s onset to over 51,266, as reported by the health ministry in the region controlled by Hamas.
The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, has also had devastating effects on the Israeli side, resulting in the deaths of 1,218 individuals, primarily civilians, as per an AFP tally based on official figures from Israel.
