What happened?
Israeli air and artillery fire continued to pound Gaza on Friday, killing at least 65 people, including 14 members of the Sultan family in a single strike.
Medical sources reported that 48 victims were from Gaza City and northern Gaza. Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud described another “sleepless night” for residents of the besieged territory.
Tactics and impact
Israeli forces reportedly used remotely operated explosive devices in neighborhoods, combined with heavy air and artillery attacks over much of eastern Gaza City. For the second consecutive night, flare bombs illuminated the skies, heightening fear among displaced residents.
The Sultans, a single family, were killed when their home in the at-Twam area of Gaza City was struck.
In Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood, drone fire killed a child and wounded others, while northern Gaza’s Shati refugee camp saw a school destroyed. Mahmoud reported that many had sought refuge in the school before the attack, only to be forced back into the streets.
Destruction and displacement
Western Gaza City also suffered strikes targeting residential clusters, including a tower near a UNRWA medical facility. While the tower sustained damage, surrounding homes were completely destroyed.
Israel’s military stated it struck 500 targets in Gaza City this week as part of its campaign to displace roughly one million residents and assert control over the area.
Gaza’s Government Media Office confirmed that more than 1.3 million Palestinians, including 350,000 children, remain in Gaza City and northern Gaza despite warnings and continuous bombardment.
Voices from the ground
Palestinians in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, have sought shelter in overcrowded tents designated as a “humanitarian zone,” which lacks adequate water, sanitation, and basic amenities.
“This is not life,” said Shade al-Wawi, a displaced resident. “We cannot do it anymore. We are smelling dust, and with it, smelling grief and death.”
