At least 42 Palestinians died in Israeli airstrikes on residential areas in two parts of Gaza City, as reported by Palestinian security and medical sources. Palestinian medical sources informed Xinhua news agency that around 18 individuals were killed and many others were injured in al-Shati refugee camp following attacks by Israeli warplanes on a residential area.
They mentioned that the casualty count might increase as rescue teams continue to extract victims from the debris, describing the residential area as a significant amount of rubble. Palestinian security sources indicated that Israeli warplanes conducted multiple strikes on the al-Shati refugee camp, resulting in the destruction of seven inhabited homes, as per Xinhua news agency.
On the same day, the Hamas-run government media office stated that a minimum of 24 Palestinians, including women and children, lost their lives during Israeli airstrikes on residences in the al-Tuffah neighborhood in northeastern Gaza City. The Israeli military, in a press release on Saturday, stated that its warplanes targeted two Hamas military facilities in Gaza City.
According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli army focused on Raed Saad, identified as a senior Hamas commander in Gaza. Despite this, there has been no official confirmation from Palestinian sources regarding his demise.
Saad, known as a key figure in Hamas operations, was believed to have been present at Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital during an Israeli incursion in March, although he was not found there at that time. Israel initiated a significant offensive on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, following a military assault by Hamas on Israeli towns near the Strip, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the capture of about 250 individuals.
As per a press release from health authorities in Gaza, the death toll among Palestinians from Israeli military operations has now reached 37,431 individuals, with 85,653 others sustaining injuries.