GAZA CITY — At least 30 Palestinians, including seven children, were killed on Friday as Israeli forces intensified their assault on Gaza City, targeting densely populated residential areas and displacement camps, according to local reports.
The latest attacks bring the death toll from the ongoing offensive to alarming levels, with eyewitnesses and Al Jazeera correspondents confirming that Israeli ground forces have now pushed into the heart of Gaza City, marking a significant escalation in the military campaign.
Israel’s military announced it now controls approximately 40 percent of Gaza City, as operations continue in urban areas where thousands of civilians remain trapped amid the violence.
According to Al Jazeera, at least 20 people, including children, were killed in airstrikes on residential neighborhoods on Friday alone. Tents housing displaced families have also been hit, raising fresh concerns about the safety of non-combatants seeking refuge from the fighting.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) described the current situation as “unthinkable“, warning that the continued bombardment of civilian areas is having catastrophic consequences for Gaza’s already vulnerable population, particularly children.
“These are not just numbers — these are lives lost, families shattered, and futures stolen,” a UNICEF spokesperson said.
Israel has defended its operations as necessary to dismantle Hamas infrastructure, but international observers have repeatedly called for restraint and the protection of civilians, particularly in densely populated urban zones and shelters.
As the humanitarian situation worsens, rights groups and aid organizations are calling for urgent international intervention, warning of a looming catastrophe as food, water, and medical supplies remain critically scarce.
