Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight have killed at least 20 people, including two children, Palestinian medics said Monday. The strikes hit a tent camp in the Muwasi area, which is an Israel-declared humanitarian zone.
The Israeli military says it targets militants, but accuses them of hiding among civilians. It claimed to have targeted a Hamas militant in the humanitarian zone on Sunday. However, the airstrikes have raised concerns about civilian casualties.
The war between Israel and Hamas began when militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage. Over 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, Palestinian security forces in the West Bank are observing a general strike, protesting a crackdown by their own security forces. Militant groups claim the security forces are trying to disarm them in support of Israel’s occupation.
In neighboring Lebanon, the caretaker prime minister has begun a tour of military positions in the south, where Lebanese soldiers under a US-brokered deal will deploy to replace Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops. The visit comes after the Lebanese government expressed frustration over ongoing Israeli strikes and overflights in the country.
The Middle East continues to experience heightened tensions as the conflict in Gaza widens the divisions between Israel’s government and its critics, as well as among Palestinian factions.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/middle-east-latest-israeli-airstrikes-083201771.html