Three killed and dozens injured in Israeli strike on Gaza City, medics and witnesses say
At least three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in a massive Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential building in one of the busiest market areas of Gaza City, local medics and witnesses said.
The strike hit the top three floors of the al-Kayali building in the center of Gaza City, where the streets were filled with shoppers ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office previously said the Israeli army targeted Hamas’ armed wing commander Mohammed Odeh, days after his predecessor was killed in a similar attack.
This is the latest deadly Israeli attack on Gaza, despite a ceasefire with Hamas in place.
Neither Hamas nor Israel made any comment on whether Odeh was killed in the attack.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene, but had difficulty reaching the upper floors due to the extent of the damage and density in the area.
Eyewitnesses said at least five missiles hit the building almost simultaneously from different directions.
One of the local residents said he heard the sound of a helicopter flying overhead before the attack.
Images taken from the scene show ambulances and civil defense teams searching the damaged building while crowds gathered nearby.
Eyewitnesses said that the building was hit by five missiles coming from different directions. [Reuters]
Netanyahu’s office stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted Mohammed Odeh, describing him as “one of the architects” of Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023.
“Odeh was responsible for the killing, kidnapping and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers,” the statement said.
His predecessor as commander of the group’s armed wing was Izz al-Din al-Haddad killed in another Israeli airstrike in early May.
The attack also targeted a residential building and killed at least three people, according to witnesses and a local source.
Israel has been carrying out regular attacks on Gaza since the ceasefire began on October 10.
Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of violating ceasefire terms and attacking civilians. The Palestinian territory’s health ministry reported that more than 800 people were killed in Israeli attacks during the ceasefire.
The Israeli government maintains that it has the authority to target Hamas members and in turn accuses Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement by not disarming.
final stages US peace plan for Gaza It has not yet come into force, with progress stalled since the US and Israel launched a war with Iran in February.
The United States announced the start of the second phase of the plan in January, with the administration of Gaza assumed by an interim, technocratic administration, as well as the demilitarization and reconstruction of the region.
But negotiations on disarmament remain deadlocked and Hamas has reactivated its police force. appears to reassert his authority.
Israel said in a statement on Tuesday that it would “continue to pursue all those who participated in the October 7 massacre.”
Approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage in the Hamas-led attack.
Israel responded by launching a major military operation in Gaza; this left much of Palestinian territory in ruins and displaced most of its 2.1 million inhabitants.
Israeli forces have killed more than 72,744 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN considers reliable.
Israel’s latest attack on Gaza came after 11 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
Netanyahu’s He vowed to step up military action in the country. The Israeli army says its attacks target Hezbollah areas.
