Israeli airstrikes on southern Gaza and southeast Lebanon have resulted in significant civilian casualties, with reports highlighting the devastating impact on families, medical services, and journalists. The attacks on Friday added to the growing toll of human suffering, raising concerns about humanitarian conditions and the safety of journalists covering the conflict.
Heavy Civilian Losses in Southern Gaza
In southern Gaza, 38 people were killed on Friday, including 13 children from a single extended family, according to Palestinian health officials. The strikes targeted residential areas in Khan Younis, where families were reportedly given no warning. “I started screaming and screaming until my brother and father came, and they started trying to get me out,” shared Saleh al-Farra, who lost both his 17-year-old brother and 15-year-old sister in the attack.
Footage from the Palestinian Civil Defense showed rescue teams pulling bloodied children from the rubble. The al-Farra family lost 15 members, while six more from the Abdeen family were confirmed dead. Victims were rushed to the Nasser Medical Complex and the European Hospital amid continued bombardment.
Strikes Near Northern Gaza Hospital Escalate
Meanwhile, northern Gaza saw intensified operations around Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last functioning medical facilities. Although Israel claims its military presence near the hospital is aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure, reports from hospital staff paint a grim picture of dwindling supplies and rising deaths. “Accessing hospitals across Gaza is getting unbelievably harder and exposes our staff to unnecessary danger,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, the hospital director, reported that some patients had died due to a lack of medication. However, communication with the hospital has been disrupted, complicating relief efforts. The United Nations expressed deep concern, with Volker Türk, the U.N. human rights chief, warning that Israel’s military actions could “empty the area of all Palestinians.”
Lebanon Airstrikes Claim Lives of Journalists
In a separate incident, Israeli airstrikes in southeast Lebanon killed three journalists, including Ghassan Najar and Mohammed Rida of Al-Mayadeen TV and Wissam Qassim of Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV. Cars marked “PRESS” were hit in the attack, raising questions about press safety amid the conflict. Israel’s military did not immediately respond to inquiries about the incident.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, 11 journalists have been killed since hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began in October 2023. The conflict has also claimed civilian lives in northern Israel, with two people killed and several injured during a rocket barrage from Lebanon on Friday.
Growing Humanitarian Crisis
Since the outbreak of violence following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly. With over 42,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and more than half of the fatalities reportedly being women and children, aid organizations warn of an escalating humanitarian disaster. Israel’s military claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, though it has provided no evidence to substantiate these numbers.
The conflict shows no sign of abating, with 359 Israeli soldiers killed during the military’s ground campaign. As the violence spreads across borders, calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid grow louder from international organizations and humanitarian groups.
The ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon has inflicted devastating losses, with civilians, medical facilities, and journalists caught in the crossfire. As tensions continue to rise, the need for immediate humanitarian intervention becomes ever more urgent.
