Central Gaza demolished after two overnight Israeli strikes, more than 40 killed
6:31 PM EDT, May 14, 2024
Last night, Israel struck twice in central Gaza, killing more than 40 Palestinians in the Nuseirat camp. The first attack hit a house belonging to the Karaja family that served as a shelter for at least 100 people and covered many under the rubble in the vicinity of the building.
"We hope to find people alive. We appeal to all international organizations to provide the Civil Defense with the necessary tools, bulldozers, and fuel," said Rami Al Aida, Civil Defense spokesperson.
With roads in Gaza demolished and critically low on supplies, Gaza stays extremely challenged to rescue Palestinians.
Al Jalees, a witness, told CNN: "He stayed to sleep here tonight, and the house collapsed on all of them … Over 50 people are under this, I swear to God they are all innocent civilians. God will question me one day if I am lying."
At least 25 bodies were taken to the nearby hospital.
Two strikes during the night in the central Gaza
Two hours later, the second night airstrike hit a school for Palestine refugees in Nuseirat.
"My children, both girls and boys, are under the rubble, my wife as well," the father-of-seven said, his head wrapped in badages. "We were targeted while we were asleep, without any prior warning." reports CNN.
Al Aida confirms that there are still over four families trapped under the rubble.
Most of the victims are displaced families who changed their place of stay several times.
Since October, Israel has carried out at least eight strikes in Gaza. Human Rights Watch reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not warn the aid organizations before any strikes.
Belkis Wille, a director at HRW, said: "On one hand Israel is blocking access to critical life-saving humanitarian provisions, and on the other attacking convoys that are delivering some of the small amount that they are allowing in. Israeli forces should immediately end their attacks on aid organisations, and there should be accountability for these crimes."
Authorities in Palestine say 80 percent of Gaza’s health centers are out of service as a result of Doctors Without Borders forced leave from a hospital in Rafah – reports Al Jazeera.
