Israel Intensifies Attacks Ahead of Elections
Deadly attacks on residential areas, funeral gatherings and shelters for displaced families have intensified in Gaza, while the United Nations raises concerns over civilian casualties and the worsening humanitarian crisis.
A series of Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip has left dozens of Palestinians dead, including children, women and displaced civilians, as the United Nations warns that the recent pattern of attacks raises concerns over possible violations of international humanitarian law.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on July 17 in the Nuseirat refugee camp, where an Israeli drone strike hit a funeral procession outside the Ahmad Yassin Mosque. Health officials said at least seven to eight mourners were killed and around 20 others injured while attending the burial of a man who had reportedly been killed in an earlier strike the same day. The Israeli military said it had targeted suspected militants and was reviewing reports of civilian casualties.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Israeli military operations between July 13 and July 20 killed at least 57 Palestinians, including six children and eight women. The agency said strikes had hit residential buildings, shelters for internally displaced people and other densely populated areas, adding that the pattern of attacks raises concerns over continuing violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes.
Medical officials in Gaza reported several attacks on residential homes during the week. In Deir al Balah, an airstrike killed Omar Sami Abu Qassem, his wife Asmaa Ghazi and their six year old daughter, while their younger son survived. In Gaza City's Nassr neighborhood, another strike destroyed a residential building, killing Adham Nasman, his wife Marwa and three of their children. Israeli authorities said the target was a Hamas commander, though Hamas had not publicly confirmed the claim.
Additional strikes were reported in Gaza City, Zeitoun, Jabalia and al Mawasi, where tents sheltering displaced families were repeatedly hit, according to Palestinian officials and humanitarian agencies. On July 21, another overnight airstrike reportedly killed Firas al Masri, his wife and their four children while they were sleeping in their home.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), shortages of clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and food supplies have reached critical levels. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also warned that restrictions on livestock feed imports threaten agricultural production and food security across the territory.
Alongside the military campaign in Gaza, tensions have also escalated in the occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities approved additional funding for settlement expansion and road infrastructure, while Palestinian officials reported new demolition orders, land seizures and restrictions on movement in several communities. Human rights groups say settler violence and military operations have continued to affect Palestinian residents in multiple areas of the West Bank.
Israeli political developments have added another dimension to the situation. After the Knesset voted to dissolve itself and schedule parliamentary elections for October 27, several ministers and lawmakers publicly backed renewed Israeli settlements inside Gaza. Senior officials also discussed proposals for expanding Israel's military presence in parts of the territory, drawing criticism from international observers concerned about the future of the conflict.
The war began after the Hamas led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. Israel's subsequent military campaign has caused widespread destruction across Gaza and resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials. International humanitarian organizations continue to call for the protection of civilians, increased humanitarian access and renewed diplomatic efforts toward a lasting ceasefire.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on July 17 in the Nuseirat refugee camp, where an Israeli drone strike hit a funeral procession outside the Ahmad Yassin Mosque. Health officials said at least seven to eight mourners were killed and around 20 others injured while attending the burial of a man who had reportedly been killed in an earlier strike the same day. The Israeli military said it had targeted suspected militants and was reviewing reports of civilian casualties.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Israeli military operations between July 13 and July 20 killed at least 57 Palestinians, including six children and eight women. The agency said strikes had hit residential buildings, shelters for internally displaced people and other densely populated areas, adding that the pattern of attacks raises concerns over continuing violations of international humanitarian law, war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes.
Medical officials in Gaza reported several attacks on residential homes during the week. In Deir al Balah, an airstrike killed Omar Sami Abu Qassem, his wife Asmaa Ghazi and their six year old daughter, while their younger son survived. In Gaza City's Nassr neighborhood, another strike destroyed a residential building, killing Adham Nasman, his wife Marwa and three of their children. Israeli authorities said the target was a Hamas commander, though Hamas had not publicly confirmed the claim.
Additional strikes were reported in Gaza City, Zeitoun, Jabalia and al Mawasi, where tents sheltering displaced families were repeatedly hit, according to Palestinian officials and humanitarian agencies. On July 21, another overnight airstrike reportedly killed Firas al Masri, his wife and their four children while they were sleeping in their home.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), shortages of clean drinking water, sanitation facilities and food supplies have reached critical levels. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also warned that restrictions on livestock feed imports threaten agricultural production and food security across the territory.
Alongside the military campaign in Gaza, tensions have also escalated in the occupied West Bank. Israeli authorities approved additional funding for settlement expansion and road infrastructure, while Palestinian officials reported new demolition orders, land seizures and restrictions on movement in several communities. Human rights groups say settler violence and military operations have continued to affect Palestinian residents in multiple areas of the West Bank.
Israeli political developments have added another dimension to the situation. After the Knesset voted to dissolve itself and schedule parliamentary elections for October 27, several ministers and lawmakers publicly backed renewed Israeli settlements inside Gaza. Senior officials also discussed proposals for expanding Israel's military presence in parts of the territory, drawing criticism from international observers concerned about the future of the conflict.
The war began after the Hamas led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. Israel's subsequent military campaign has caused widespread destruction across Gaza and resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials. International humanitarian organizations continue to call for the protection of civilians, increased humanitarian access and renewed diplomatic efforts toward a lasting ceasefire.
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