30 Palestinians killed in Israeli shelling of homes in Gaza Strip: Ministry

GAZA, Palestine (AA) - At least 30 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in Israeli shelling of homes across the Gaza Strip, Gaza’s Interior Ministry announced late Sunday.

“At least 30 Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling of a number of inhabited homes in Jabaliya (refugee) camp, the town of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza and in (the) Nuseirat and Bureij (camps) in the center of the Strip,” the ministry said in a statement.

It said most of the victims were women and children and the attacks came without warning.

People in various parts of the Gaza Strip endured a very difficult night as a result of dozens of intensive raids and shelling by Israeli forces, an Anadolu correspondent cited residents as saying.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli aircraft bombed the homes of the Abu Qaddous, Khalidi and Al-Ghandour families in the Jabalya camp and Beit Lahia along with those of the Al-Shafi'i and Abu Wajda families in the Al-Bureij camp.

Warplanes also carried out a series of violent raids on the Karama area northwest of Gaza City, the Al-Nada Towers and Al-Awada Towers and the Shaima area north of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli aircraft also targeted the house of the Abu Anza family in Rafah and the home of the Al-Zinati family in Khan Yunis, resulting in a number of injuries.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military announced that it would intensify airstrikes on the Gaza Strip with the aim of reducing threats that its forces may encounter in Gaza, in preparation for the next phase of the war, referring to a ground operation.

The Israeli army continues to target Gaza with intensive airstrikes that have destroyed entire neighborhoods, killing 4,651 Palestinians, including 1,873 children and 1,023 women, and injuring 14,245, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

An unknown number of people are also trapped under the rubble.

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.