Israeli Forces Kill 15 Palestinians Amid Gaza Bombardment

Israeli forces killed at least 15 Palestinians on Wednesday during heavy bombardment of Gaza, targeting homes and tents, according to the territory’s civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal, who briefed AFP.

Israel has launched a major air and ground offensive on Gaza City, prompting hundreds of thousands to flee the territory’s largest urban centre. Many of those remaining were reportedly sheltering in the city centre when air strikes struck.

Details of the Attacks

Casualty Context

Over the past nearly two years, Israeli military operations have killed 65,382 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The United Nations considers these figures reliable.

The current conflict erupted after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,219 Israelis, primarily civilians.

Due to media restrictions and difficulty accessing many areas, AFP is unable to independently verify the casualty figures provided by either Gaza civil defence or the Israeli military.

International Reaction

The offensive coincides with a UN probe accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip. The report claims that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials incited the crimes. Israel rejected the findings, labelling the investigation “distorted and false.”

Humanitarian Impact

• Large-scale destruction: Vast areas of Gaza City have been laid to waste.
• Famine declaration: Last month, a UN-backed body officially declared famine in parts of Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The offensive has intensified a growing humanitarian catastrophe, with civilians bearing the brunt of both direct attacks and displacement.