Israel has blasted southern Gaza after warning Palestinians to escape ahead of an impending assault, killing scores.
Residents in Gaza said that those injured in air strikes were brought to hospitals after heavy attacks outside the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.
According to Basem Naim, a Hamas spokesman and former health minister, 27 people were killed in Rafah and 30 in Khan Younis.
Around 50 bodies were carried to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, according to an Associated Press correspondent. Family members arrived to claim the dead, which were wrapped in white bedsheets and saturated in blood.
An air attack in Deir al Balah destroyed a house, killing nine members of the family who lived there. Three members of another family who had fled Gaza City were slain in a nearby residence. One guy was killed, as were 11 women and children. According to witnesses, there was no notice before the strike.
According to the Israeli military, it is targeting Hamas hideouts, infrastructure, and command centers.
‘When we see a target, when we see something moving that is Hamas, we will deal with it. ‘We’ll handle it,’ said Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht.
However, Iran’s foreign minister has warned that ‘pre-emptive action is possible’ if Israel draws closer to launching a ground invasion.
Since the militant attack on southern Israel on October 7, which killed over 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and left over 200 hostages in Gaza, Israel has walled off and attacked Hamas-ruled Gaza.
According to the Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed at least 2,778 individuals and injured 9,700 more in Gaza.
The raids have not deterred Hamas militants from continuing to shoot rockets from Gaza at Israel.
Another 1,200 individuals are feared to be buried beneath the rubble in Gaza, according to health officials.
