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22 Killed in Fresh Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza as Violence Escalates

At least 22 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in renewed Israeli airstrikes across Gaza overnight, local health officials report. The bombardment targeted residential areas, a marketplace, and alleged Hamas sites, intensifying fears of a wider conflict amid soaring regional tensions.

Casualties and Strike Locations

The Israeli military confirmed the operation as retaliation for earlier rocket fire from Gaza. Among the dead were a 5-year-old girl and a family of five in Deir al-Balah. Gaza’s overwhelmed hospitals, crippled by years of blockade, faced shortages as casualties flooded in.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes in Rafah, where a marketplace strike left multiple dead. Israel insists it targeted Hamas infrastructure, but Palestinian officials accuse it of indiscriminate attacks.

Global Calls for De-Escalation

The United Nations demanded an immediate ceasefire, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging restraint. The Arab League condemned the strikes as “excessive,” while the U.S. balanced support for Israel’s “self-defense” with concern over civilian deaths. Iran and Turkey accused Israel of “war crimes.”

Hamas Vows Retaliation; IDF Defends Strikes

Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades promised “severe consequences,” citing “Zionist crimes.” The IDF stated strikes hit weapons depots and tunnels, blaming Hamas for civilian harm: “They operate among families, knowing the cost.”

Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

With 2 million Palestinians under blockade since 2007, shortages of food, water, and medicine have reached critical levels. UNRWA reported damage to schools sheltering displaced families, warning that “children suffer most.”

Risk of Wider Conflict

Tensions flare in the West Bank amid Israeli raids and settler violence. Egypt and Qatar are mediating behind the scenes, but fears of prolonged conflict grow as Israel masses troops near Gaza.

What Comes Next?

Diplomatic efforts struggle to keep pace with military posturing. Palestinians plan protests, while Israel prepares for potential ground operations. Civilians remain trapped in a cycle of violence with no end in sight.

— Reporting by NextMinuteNews | Follow us for live updates.

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