Over 90 Palestinians, including members of an extended family, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on two homes in Gaza, according to rescuers and hospital officials. This comes a day after the U.N. chief reiterated that nowhere is safe in Gaza and that Israel’s ongoing offensive is hindering the distribution of humanitarian aid. The Israeli military also announced that they have arrested hundreds of alleged militants in Gaza and transferred over 200 of them to Israel for further interrogation. This provides rare details on Israel’s controversial policy of mass roundups of Palestinian men. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas gunmen crossed the border on October 7, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the taking of hostages. Health officials in Gaza report that over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed and 53,000 wounded since the start of the war. Despite international calls for a cease-fire, Israel has vowed to continue its fight until Hamas is destroyed and removed from power in Gaza. The Biden administration has supported Israel in the diplomatic arena, and a recent U.N. Security Council resolution called for speeding up aid deliveries to civilians in Gaza but did not demand a cease-fire. The airstrikes on Friday destroyed two homes in Gaza City and the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing a total of 76 people from the al-Mughrabi family and at least 14 others. Israel blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll, citing their use of residential areas and tunnels. The offensive has displaced nearly 85% of Gaza’s population and has left more than half a million people starving, according to a recent U.N. report. The Israeli military has widened its ground offensive to additional areas of Gaza and continues to carry out airstrikes against Hamas fighters. Reports of large-scale roundups of teenage boys and men have emerged, with some detainees alleging abuse. Israel claims to have killed thousands of Hamas militants but has not provided evidence. The U.N. resolution’s impact on aid deliveries remains uncertain, as both the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings were closed by mutual agreement between Israel, Egypt, and the United Nations. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that Israel’s conduct is creating significant obstacles to the distribution of aid in Gaza and called for a humanitarian cease-fire. The United States abstained from the Security Council vote, which removed language calling for an urgent suspension of hostilities. Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. criticized the organization for its failure to condemn Hamas’ attacks, and Hamas expressed disappointment in the resolution for not demanding an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive.
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Israeli airstrikes kill 90, destroy 2 homes in expanded offensive
