ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Israel’s ongoing airstrikes across Gaza have left hundreds dead, including women, children, and medical professionals, as the region grapples with mounting devastation. Families are struggling to find and retrieve their loved ones from under the rubble, with hospitals overwhelmed by casualties.
Intensified Bombardment Leaves Hundreds Dead
Since early Tuesday, the Israeli military has intensified its bombardment of Gaza, killing over 400 Palestinians and injuring more than 500. Gaza’s health authorities have warned that the death toll is expected to rise, as many remain trapped under the rubble. Footage from Al Jazeera shows civilians sifting through the debris of destroyed homes in Gaza City, desperately searching for missing family members.
Grief and Despair: Families Torn Apart
Among the victims was Nesreen, the sister of Ramy Abdu, chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor. Nesreen and her children, Ubaida, Omar, and Lian, were killed in the bombing, along with Ubaida’s wife, Malak, and their two young children, Siwar and Mohammed. The family had previously survived bombings and displacement but was again caught in the latest wave of attacks. In a heart-wrenching post on social media, Abdu said, “Israel may kill us at will, burn us alive, and tear us apart, but it will never succeed in uprooting us from our land.”
Medical Professionals and Children Among the Dead
Among the casualties were also medical professionals and children. Dr. Majda Abu Aker, an obstetrician working at a UNRWA clinic, was killed along with over a dozen family members when an Israeli airstrike hit their home in Rafah. Tragically, a three-day-old infant was among those killed in the attack. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as rescuers pulled lifeless bodies from the rubble.
In Khan Younis, a so-called “humanitarian zone,” at least 15 members of the Barhoum family were killed when airstrikes targeted al-Mawasi. Despite Israel’s claims that civilians in these zones would be protected, the repeated bombings have turned them into graveyards. Additionally, a family of six, fleeing the strikes, died when their vehicle was hit by an airstrike in Abasan.
A Mother’s Heartbreaking Grief: ‘My Children Died Hungry’
A deeply emotional video from Khan Younis shows a Palestinian mother grieving over the deaths of her children and husband, all killed in the recent airstrikes. “My children died hungry. I swear to God they did not find food for suhoor,” she wept, referring to the pre-dawn meal during Ramadan. “My daughter died fasting.” She directed her anguish at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “I am a mother with a burning heart. May God burn your heart over your children.”
Rising Death Toll and Continued Destruction
In Jabalia, families spent hours searching for the remains of loved ones after an airstrike left a massive crater. Body parts were found scattered on trees. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, Jabalia has been subject to relentless bombardment, with Israeli operations leaving much of the town flattened. Following the collapse of a January 19 ceasefire with Hamas, the attacks resumed in full force.
Gaza’s health ministry reports that at least 48,577 Palestinians have been killed, with 112,041 others wounded. Thousands remain missing or presumed dead under the rubble, pushing the estimated death toll beyond 61,000. Despite increasing international condemnation, the Israeli military has shown no signs of halting its operations.
International Outcry
As the toll of human suffering rises, global calls for an end to the violence have intensified. Despite this, the Israeli military continues its operations, with no ceasefire in sight. The situation remains dire for those living in Gaza, as families continue to endure loss and devastation under the ongoing airstrikes.
