Israeli airstrikes kill 23 in Gaza as outcry over aid blockade grows
DEIR AL-BALAH Gaza City AP Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Saturday killed at least Palestinians in Gaza including three children and their parents whose tent was bombed in Gaza City soundness authorities declared The bombardment continued as international warnings grow over Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza as Israel s blockade on the territory of over million people is in its third month The U N and aid groups have rejected Israel s aid distribution moves including a plan from a group of American protection contractors ex-military officers and humanitarian aid officers calling itself the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Among the bodies brought to hospitals over the past hours were those of the family of five whose tent was struck in Gaza City s Sabra district Gaza s Fitness Ministry noted Another Israeli strike late Friday hit a warehouse belonging to UNRWA the U N agency for Palestinian refugees in the northern area of Jabaliya Four people were killed according to the Indonesian Hospital where bodies were taken AP video proved fires burning in the shattered building The warehouse was empty after being hit and raided multiple times during Israeli ground offensives against Hamas fighters over the past year stated residents including Hamza Mohamed Israel s military disclosed nine soldiers were lightly wounded Friday night by an explosive device while searching Gaza City s Shijaiyah neighborhood It explained they were evacuated to a hospital in Israel Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza on March shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas Ground troops have seized more than half the territory and have been conducting raids and searching parts of northern Gaza and the southernmost city of Rafah Large parts of both areas have been flattened by months of Israeli operations Under Israel s blockade charity kitchens are virtually the only source of food left in Gaza but dozens have shut down in new days as food supplies run out Aid groups say more closures are imminent Israel has revealed the blockade is meant to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages and disarm Rights groups have called the blockade a starvation tactic and a anticipated war crime Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of siphoning off aid in Gaza though it hasn t presented evidence for its alleges The U N denies essential diversion takes place saying it monitors distribution The -month-old war in Gaza is the the greater part devastating ever fought between Israel and Hamas It has killed more than people there more than half of them women and children and wounded more than according to the Wellbeing Ministry The ministry s count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants Israel says it has killed thousands of militants without giving evidence Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Oct attack on southern Israel in which militants killed around people mostly civilians and kidnapped over others Hamas still holds about hostages with around a third inferred to still be alive Hamas distributed a video Saturday showing hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana who appeared under duress They were abducted during the Oct attack from a music festival where over people were killed Hamas distributed a video of them a month and half ago and has issued several videos of Bohbot alone since then Protesters on Saturday night rallied once more in Tel Aviv to demand a ceasefire that would bring all hostages home Can you grasp this The Israeli ruling body is about to embark on a military operation that could and will endanger the lives of the hostages Michel Illouz father of hostage Guy Illouz explained the gathering referring to the plan to vastly expand operations in Gaza Follow AP s war coverage at https apnews com hub israel-hamas-war
