Israeli airstrikes result in 36 casualties in central Gaza during overnight attacks
Reports from hospitals in central Gaza confirm the loss of 36 lives following separate Israeli airstrikes that occurred within close proximity overnight.
Hospitals in central Gaza have confirmed that 36 individuals lost their lives in two Israeli airstrikes that occurred overnight, just a few hundred meters apart.
According to witnesses, the strikes took place around 1 a.m. and 2:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning local time (6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Monday ET).
Al Aqsa hospital reported that they received 25 bodies from the first strike, while Al Awda hospital received 11 bodies from the second strike.
Rescue workers are still searching for bodies trapped under the rubble of a four-story building in Nuseirat that was destroyed in the initial strike. Witnesses mentioned that many individuals were seeking shelter in the building's yard.
CNN footage captured the injured and deceased being taken to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Another video depicted the recovery of several children's bodies from the debris.
Family members in distress gathered around the rubble, hopeful for any signs of survivors. Unfortunately, the workers on site were lacking the necessary tools to clear the concrete.
CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the two strikes.
Some of those killed had recently arrived from Rafah, according to people at the scene.
Ashraf Al Jalees, a witness at the site, told CNN, "I swear these are innocent civilians. They are all buried under the ground, including children. There are seven girls here. What fault did they have?"
He mentioned that he had set up a tent for his friend, Hassan Obeid, who he said had "no affiliation with Hamas or anyone else."
Relatives of those killed mourn on Tuesday morning.
Relatives of those killed mourn on Tuesday morning.
Al Jalees called out Obeid's name and mentioned that he had stayed at the house overnight. Unfortunately, the house collapsed on all of them. Al Jalees stated that there were over 50 people trapped under the rubble, emphasizing that they were all innocent civilians. He solemnly swore that God would question him if he was lying.
Hamdan Karaja, another man interviewed by CNN, shared, "My children, both girls and boys, are trapped under the rubble. My wife is also stuck."
Karaja mentioned that he has seven children and sadly, his father's body has been found.
"We have more than 100 displaced individuals, including some families with up to 20 members, who are currently trapped under the rubble. The attack happened while we were sleeping, catching us completely off guard," he explained.
"In addition to those trapped, we also have tents set up in the yard for other displaced people. Sadly, we have lost 10 individuals in one area and 20 in another," he added.
CNN has so far confirmed 13 people were killed, but the scale of the destruction indicates the toll will rise.
Boys watch smoke billowing during Israeli strikes east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 13, 2024.
Boys watch smoke billowing during Israeli strikes east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 13, 2024.
Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
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Rami Al Aida, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Central Gaza, mentioned that their crews are facing tough conditions due to a lack of fuel and equipment. They are working hard to find survivors and are asking for support from international organizations to provide them with the necessary tools, bulldozers, and fuel.
Al Aida confirmed the assessment of others on the ground that there are still many individuals trapped under the debris. He stated that there are more than four families stuck under the rubble, along with displaced families seeking refuge in and around the building, totaling over 100 people.
Sama Alousha, a girl at the scene, shared that they heard a loud explosion around 1 a.m. This caused everyone to panic and rush to see what had occurred. Unfortunately, Sama witnessed her friend's house being completely destroyed. She expressed the difficulty in rescuing anyone, mentioning that five of her friends were trapped underneath the rubble.
One man, who chose to remain anonymous, shared that he and his family experienced displacement multiple times. They were forced to leave Shajaiya, then relocated to Khan Younis, followed by a move to Rafah, and finally settling in their current location. His brother found a place to rent here and now resides there with his own family.
I was shocked when I got a call saying that my brother's place was hit. Unfortunately, there were no tools to rescue them. It's a family of six, all innocent civilians - my brother, his wife, and four children.
Rami Al Aida, a Civil Defense Spokesperson in Central Gaza, said crews were "operating in extremely challenging conditions due to a lack of fuel and equipment."
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Rami Al Aida, a Civil Defense Spokesperson in Central Gaza, said crews were "operating in extremely challenging conditions due to a lack of fuel and equipment."
Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Getty Images
He then called out the names of his brother’s family, but there was no response.
One emotional woman, Um Mahmoud, shared with CNN that her brother recently arrived from Rafah after being forced to leave his home. Unfortunately, they have lost contact with him, along with his wife and five children. They are all displaced and were still looking for a place to settle in Deir el Balah.
Um Mahmoud mentioned that her brother's name was on the list to leave Gaza through the Rafah border, but something unexpected happened.
Salah Abu Jarada reported that his brother, who also came from Rafah, was trapped under three collapsed floors and has not been rescued yet.
Witnesses stated that a second strike hit the UNRWA school in Nuseirat about two hours after the initial attack.
Ismail Abu Ghosheh reported that everything was burnt and seven people lost their lives.
Najah Abu Daher, another man at the school, expressed that there is no safe place to seek refuge. He mentioned the constant fear of being followed wherever they go. Tragically, his son and three relatives were among those who lost their lives in a violent attack that occurred in the middle of the night. The chaos caused children to scatter in all directions and glass to shatter.
Editor's P/S:
The article's harrowing account of the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza paints a vivid picture of the devastation and heartbreak inflicted upon innocent civilians. The loss of 36 lives, including children, is a tragedy that weighs heavily on the heart. The testimonies of witnesses and family members reveal the horrors they endured, from the desperate search for survivors trapped under rubble to the anguish of losing loved ones. The lack of essential tools and equipment for rescue workers further compounds the suffering, highlighting the urgent need for international support to alleviate the crisis.
The article exposes the human toll of conflict, where innocent lives are lost and families are torn apart. It underscores the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions and holding accountable those responsible for such atrocities. The ongoing violence in Gaza has far-reaching consequences, not only for the people directly affected but also for the collective conscience of humanity.
