Dozens killed, injured in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza Strip on 1st day of Ramadan

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - Dozens of Palestinians were killed and injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip as Muslims began the holy month of Ramadan on Monday, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.

Casualties were reported as Israeli fighter jets and shelling targeted houses in the Zaytoun and Sabra neighborhoods, as well as areas in the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces also bombed agricultural land in the Salam neighborhood of the city of Rafah.

Warplanes also targeted the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, and the Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 people were killed.

Nearly 31,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed besides causing mass destruction, displacement and shortages of necessities.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. The UN court in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Egypt, Qatar and the US have sought to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas before the start of Ramadan, but to no avail.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul