Gaza City, Special Report
June 30, 2025
Israeli forces have killed at least 80 Palestinians in a wave of relentless air strikes across the besieged Gaza Strip since dawn on Monday, striking residential areas, displacement shelters, and even medical facilities, including Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah.
The attacks come amid growing fears of a massive ground invasion after Israel issued new evacuation orders targeting northern Gaza City. Witnesses described scenes of carnage as families who had already fled multiple times were bombed again while waiting for food aid or shelter.
Dozens Killed in Strikes on Aid Seekers and Shelters
Among the dead were 57 people in northern Gaza and 15 Palestinians in Rafah who had gathered near aid distribution points. In Khan Younis, Israeli artillery struck crowds in the southeastern district, far from any military installations, killing and injuring civilians who posed no threat.
Air raids also targeted a makeshift displacement camp near the Gaza seaport, where many had sought refuge from the blistering summer heat in overcrowded tents.
Journalist Killed While Documenting the War
Gaza’s Government Media Office confirmed that photojournalist Ismail Abu Hatab was among those killed in the bombardment. Hatab, who documented the impact of Israel’s military campaign on civilians, had worked with several local and international media outlets. He also organised exhibitions abroad to highlight what Palestinian officials describe as a systematic effort to silence journalists.
“This is part of the deliberate targeting and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation,” the media office said in a statement, condemning the killing “in the strongest terms.”
Mounting Death Toll and Crumbling Health System
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel’s ongoing assault has killed at least 56,531 Palestinians and wounded more than 133,642 since October.
In Israel, authorities say about 1,139 people were killed in the October 7 attacks by Hamas, with dozens still held captive.
Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, with doctors warning that shortages of staff, electricity, and essential medical supplies are putting thousands of lives at risk. Aid workers say the combination of blockade and bombardment is rapidly collapsing what remains of Gaza’s health system.
Ceasefire Talks Amid Intensified Bombardment
Despite rising international pressure and efforts to broker a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli captives, Israeli forces have escalated attacks across the territory.
In the last few hours alone, heavy artillery and air strikes have devastated areas far from the front lines, including places where civilians gathered simply to collect food.
A Community on the Brink
As talks continue behind closed doors, Gaza’s population is left to bury their dead and brace for more attacks in a war that many here call nothing less than genocide. (ST)
