Airstrikes on Gaza Kill 30, Including 13 Children: Rescuers

Gaza's Civil Defence Agency reported on Sunday that at least 30 people, including 13 children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on two houses in the northern part of the Palestinian territory. The first strike, which occurred early Sunday, targeted a house in Jabalia, northern Gaza, killing at least 25 people, including the 13 children, and injuring more than 30 others.

Since October 6, the Israeli military has intensified its air and ground assault on northern Gaza, including Jabalia, as part of efforts to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping in the region.

A second strike hit the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, killing five people, while several others remain missing under the rubble, according to civil defense officials. "A number of civilians are still under the rubble," the agency added.

The Israeli military, when contacted by AFP, said it was "looking into the reports" of the strikes.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza escalated after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, the majority of which were civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 43,552 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas. The United Nations considers these figures credible.

On Friday, the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the staggering civilian death toll, noting that women and children make up nearly 70 percent of the verified casualties. The OHCHR described the scale of the violence in Gaza as unprecedented, with Israeli forces' actions causing widespread deaths, injuries, and suffering. "Civilians in Gaza have borne the brunt of the attacks, including through the initial 'complete siege' of Gaza by Israeli forces," the OHCHR said.

Israel’s mission to the UN in Geneva, however, rejected the OHCHR’s report, calling it "obsessed with demonizing Israel."

In early November, UN agencies described northern Gaza as being "under siege," with life-saving aid supplies being severely restricted. On October 15, the United States warned that it could withhold some of its military assistance to Israel unless it improved aid delivery to Gaza within 30 days. However, there has been little improvement in aid conditions, and a UN-backed assessment released on Saturday warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report confirmed that the situation has deteriorated rapidly, with aid shipments to Gaza at their lowest levels since October 2023. The Famine Review Committee issued a stark warning of "an imminent and substantial likelihood of famine," caused by the escalating crisis.

Israel’s military has questioned the credibility of the famine warning, but the growing humanitarian disaster in Gaza remains a critical concern for international organizations.