On June 7, a day after Eid al-Adha, Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 75 people and wounded nearly 100, the Gaza Civil Defense reported. Among the dead were 16 members of the same family—including six children—who lived in the Sabra district of Gaza City.
Details of the Strikes
• No Warning Issued: The Civil Defense said Israeli jets gave no siren or prior alert before bombing began at dawn.
• Buried Under Rubble: At least 85 people remain trapped under collapsed buildings, and rescue efforts are ongoing.
• All Civilians: Spokesman Mahmoud Bassel al-Jaziri condemned the attack as a “calculated massacre,” noting many of the victims were women and children.
Eyewitness Accounts
• Hamed Khalil al-Jaziri (Gaza City):
“In past years, we would rise early in new clothes, visit friends and family. This year I carry the bodies of my loved ones.”
• Hasan al-Khor al-Jaziri (Gaza City):
“For almost two years we have suffered under Israeli operations. Netanyahu must answer to God for this.”
Israeli Defense Forces Statement
The IDF said the raid targeted Asad Abu Sharia, head of Hamas’s Mujahideen Brigades within the al-Qassam Brigades, who helped plan the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Conflict Background
• Eid Day Strikes: On June 6, Israeli forces also bombed multiple Gaza neighborhoods, killing at least 42.
• October 7, 2023 Attack: Hamas gunmen stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251.
• Overall Casualties: Since the October assault, Israeli operations have killed 54,677 Palestinians and injured 125,530—56% of them women and children.
• Humanitarian Blockade: Since March, Israeli restrictions have blocked food, water, and medical aid convoys, deepening Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Hostage Rescue Efforts
Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas, at least 35 are believed still alive. The IDF has announced plans to free them by military means.
International Reactions
• The UN and rights groups have repeatedly called for a ceasefire, but Prime Minister Netanyahu insists operations will continue until Hamas is eliminated.
• The International Court of Justice is hearing a genocide case against Israel.
• The U.S. has proposed a two-month truce; Israel has accepted, but Hamas has not yet agreed.
Conclusion:
These strikes on civilian areas during a major religious holiday, coupled with an ongoing blockade, have produced a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Without a durable ceasefire or full aid access, daily life remains devastated despite international calls for peace.