Islamic Jihad commander, hundreds of civilians killed in Israeli air raids on Gaza

A senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement and his family have been martyred in the latest round of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, as the regime’s relentless onslaught on the besieged enclave enters its sixth consecutive day.

In a statement on Thursday, the Islamic Jihad confirmed that Abdul-Rahman Shehab, a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement, and his family were killed when the Israeli military carried out airstrikes against targets in the Jabalia neighborhood in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli regime’s airstrikes also killed another Palestinian reporter in the Jabalia refugee camp.

According to reports, seven Palestinian journalists and photographers have been killed by Israeli military air raids on Gaza.

In the Thursday attacks, at least 10 Palestinian civilians, including women and children, were killed by an Israeli missile attack on the Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City.

Dozens of injuries have also been reported after Israeli warplanes fired four missiles at homes, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency.

These attacks came as the United Nations called for the establishment of a safe corridor to facilitate the delivery of much-needed medical, food, and fuel supplies, essential for powering Gaza’s electricity generation station. 

“In previous escalations, there would always be some time, even a half-hour, without airstrikes,” said Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent. “But now, there is not a single minute. That’s why the casualties keep going up and up.”

Heavy casualties were also reported at Gaza hospitals.

According to the latest statistics from Gaza’s Health Ministry, the death toll has reached 1,354, including scores of children, with 6,049 wounded since Israel began its bombardment of the territory.

Latest on the situation in📍#GazaStrip

🔺Nearly 220,000 people sheltering in 92 @UNRWA schools

🔺At least 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced across📍#GazaStrip

🔺No humanitarian access for food or essential supplies - a water crisis is loominghttps://t.co/ckKvmjSEdD pic.twitter.com/gtqE4aSAu4

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 12, 2023

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has reported that nearly 218,600 people are sheltering in 92 UNRWA schools in the Gaza Strip. Many others are displaced in government schools and other buildings. In total, at least 340,000 Palestinians have been displaced across Gaza.

The United Nations human rights chief on Tuesday warned that Israel’s imposition of a total blockade on the Gaza Strip amounts to a war crime and violates international law.

Israel launched deadly strikes on the Gaza Strip on October 7, after the resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation al-Aqsa Storm in the occupied territories.

Hamas said its operation came in response to Israel’s violations at al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds and growing settler violence.

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