53 Palestinians killed, dozens wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza

By Ramzi Mahmoud

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – At least 53 Palestinians were killed and dozens of other wounded as Israel targeted homes and buildings in a number of areas of the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

Medical and security sources told Anadolu that the bombardments took place "without warning."

Dozens of people remain missing under the debris of destroyed homes.

Besieged since 2006, the Gaza Strip has been under intense Israeli airstrikes for a sixth straight day.

Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian Hamas group in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the attack was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

That has extended to cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.