Airstrikes across Gaza have killed 78, including an Israeli air raid on a residential area in central Gaza's al-Maghazi camp, Palestinian official says. Palestinian health officials said Israeli airstrikes killed at least 78 people on Christmas Eve in one of the Gaza Strip’s deadliest nights, Reuters reports.
Israeli strikes that began hours before midnight persisted into Christmas Day today. Residents and Palestinian media said Israel stepped up air and ground shelling against al-Bureij in central Gaza.
At least 70 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Maghazi in central Gaza, health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra said, adding that many were women and children.
The Israeli army said it was reviewing the report of a Maghazi incident and was committed to minimising harm to civilians. Hamas denies the Israeli charge
that it operates in densely populated areas or uses civilians as human shields.
Medics said a separate Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed eight Palestinians.
'Futile' war
Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, December 24, 2023. — Reuters
Meanwhile, Pope Francis lamented the war in the Holy Land where Palestinian health officials said airstrikes killed at least 78 people on Christmas Eve in one of the Gaza Strip‘s deadliest nights in Israel’s 11-week-old battle on the besieged Palestinian territory.
Israeli strikes that began hours before midnight persisted into Christmas Day on Monday. Local residents and Palestinian media said Israel stepped up air and ground shelling against al-Bureij in central Gaza.
At least 70 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Maghazi in central Gaza, health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qudra said, adding that many were women and children.
Israeli forces said it was reviewing the report of a Maghazi incident and claimed it was committed to minimising harm to civilians.
Injured men who were among Palestinians detained by Israeli forces are currently treated at al-Najjar hospital in Rafah [Getty]
Torture
Palestinians held by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip had suffered torture, two freed detainees and a medic said Sunday.
The two men were among hundreds abducted by Israeli forces during Israel’s ongoing ground offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
About 20 men released from Israeli custody “have bruises and marks of blows on their bodies”, Marwan al-Hams, hospital director in the southern city of Rafah, told French news agency AFP.
Hams said the freed Palestinians were admitted to Al-Najjar hospital upon their release.
Israeli forces rejected the claims, saying detainees are “treated in accordance with international law”. — Agencies
