A Palestinian man mourns as he cradles the physique of a relative, killed in a reported Israeli strike, forward of her funeral on the Ahli Arab Hospital, also called the Maamadani (Baptist) Hospital, in Gaza Metropolis on April 6, 2025. Israel’s navy resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, and since then, greater than 1,330 individuals have been killed within the territory, in keeping with the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry. (Photograph by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Gaza’s civil protection company stated Israeli strikes killed at the least 44 individuals on Sunday as Israel’s prime minister vowed a “robust response” to a uncommon salvo of rockets fired from the Hamas-ruled territory.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed nearly every day since Israel resumed its navy offensive in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire that had introduced relative calm to the territory.
“The demise toll on account of Israeli air strikes since daybreak at this time is at the least 44, together with 21 in Khan Yunis,” a metropolis within the southern Gaza Strip, civil protection company spokesman Mahmud Bassal advised AFP.
One strike killed six individuals on Al-Nakheel Road within the Al-Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza Metropolis, the place a gaggle had gathered close to a bakery, Bassal stated.
Three youngsters have been among the many lifeless, he stated.
A Hamas assertion referred to as the strike “a deliberate act of kid killing” and a “affirmation of the sadistic and barbaric nature of the occupation and its fascist leaders.”
AFP footage captured thick plumes of smoke rising from central and northern Gaza as Israeli forces bombarded areas of the besieged Palestinian territory.
A ceasefire brokered by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar ended on March 18 as Israel resumed its offensive in response to the Hamas assaults of October 7, 2023.
Elsewhere, Israel stated it shot lifeless “one terrorist” within the West Financial institution for throwing rocks, with Palestinian officers claiming it was a 14-year-old boy with US citizenship.
‘Like a nuclear bomb’
Gaza has since endured a brand new wave of relentless strikes and artillery fireplace, with dozens of fatalities reported on a near-daily foundation.
Efforts to revive the ceasefire and safe the discharge of the remaining hostages held in Gaza have up to now failed.
The stalled efforts shall be on the agenda throughout a gathering between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, set for Monday in Washington.
Netanyahu ordered a “robust response”, his workplace stated, after the Israeli navy reported about 10 “projectiles” had been fired from Gaza inside minutes of one another on Sunday. Most have been intercepted.
The Israeli offensive since 2023 has severely weakened Hamas, however the military has recorded 10 different rockets fired at Israel over the previous two weeks.
Israeli police stated particles fell in Ashkelon, close to the Gaza border, and paramedics stated one man had been wounded.
“The prime minister instructed to ship a robust response and permitted the continuation of the intensified IDF operations in Gaza towards Hamas,” Netanyahu’s workplace stated.
One Israeli strike on Sunday hit the house of the Abu Issa household in Deir el-Balah, killing ladies and youngsters, in keeping with witnesses.
“There have been no wished people in the home — even the lads have been on the mosque,” stated Mohammad al-Azaizeh, a resident.
“They have been all civilians — youngsters, ladies, and women. A missile tore by each flooring, flattening the home. It felt like a nuclear bomb had hit us.”
AFP footage from one other strike late on Saturday in Gaza Metropolis confirmed scenes of devastation at a hospital, the place women and men mourned our bodies wrapped in white shrouds.
“We heard the explosion and rushed to test on the kids,” stated Umm Haytham al-Salakhi by tears, as she grieved a relative at Al-Ahli Hospital.
“I saved calling out for all our youngsters.”
One sobbing man cradled a relative’s physique, as dozens gathered to carry out funeral prayers earlier than the victims have been taken for burial.
“They struck unarmed civilians whereas they slept,” stated one other resident, Mohammad Rahmi, who additionally misplaced a relative within the bombing.
A number of males held the our bodies of kids wrapped in shrouds, whereas rescuers transported the wounded to the hospital, in keeping with AFP photos.
Among the wounded, together with youngsters, have been handled within the hospital’s hall as kinfolk gathered close by.
Greater than 50,000 lifeless
Scenes from a destroyed house revealed collapsed concrete slabs and twisted steel, as youngsters sifted by the rubble in quest of salvaged belongings.
Since Israel’s navy resumed its offensive in Gaza final month, greater than 1,330 individuals have been killed within the territory, in keeping with the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry.
The conflict started after Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, ensuing within the deaths of 1,218 individuals, largely civilians, in keeping with an AFP tally primarily based on official Israeli figures.
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The general demise toll because the conflict erupted now stands at 50,695, in keeping with the Gaza well being ministry.
