Israeli airstrikes in Gaza result in deaths of 16 individuals, including 4 children, according to Palestinians

Palestinian officials have reported that Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, including five women and four children. One of the strikes, occurring early Monday, destroyed a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, claiming the lives of at least 10 people, among them four women and two children. The Awda Hospital, where the casualties were taken, has verified the death toll and noted that 13 others were injured. The hospital’s records indicate that those who perished included a mother, her child, and her five siblings.
Another airstrike, targeting a residence in Gaza City, led to the deaths of six people, including a woman and two children, as reported by the Civil Defense, the primary responders operating under the Hamas-administered government. Israel maintains that its strikes are aimed solely at militants, alleging that groups like Hamas recklessly place civilians at risk by operating within residential areas. The military rarely issues statements regarding specific strikes, many of which result in the loss of innocent lives, including women and children.
The Gaza Health Ministry has documented that more than 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since the initiation of hostilities sparked by Hamas’ attack on October 7, almost a year ago. The Ministry’s data does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants but notes that slightly over half of the casualties were women and children. Israel contests this figure, claiming to have eliminated over 17,000 militants, though no evidence has been presented to substantiate this claim.