On Thursday Day 216 of the ongoing genocide in the destroyed Gaza Strip, Israeli missiles and shells killed dozens of Palestinians, largely women and children, and wounded many more, in addition to those who remain under the rubble, in several parts of the devastated coastal enclave.
The Israeli army announced the beginning of a new extended offensive in the Zeitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City, for the second time since October 7, 2023, and fired barrages of missiles and shells at homes and buildings, killing and wounding dozens, and burying many more under the rubble.
Medical sources said dozens of Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed and injured in bombing and shelling around Ali Bin Al-Khattab Mosque in the Zeitoun neighborhood, and along Street 8, after the army struck homes and residential buildings, turning them into rubble.
Palestinian medics and rescue teams rushed to the bombarded areas and were unable to reach vast areas due to the massive destruction.
The army also fired missiles at ten Palestinian homes around the Hasan Al-Banna Mosque in Zeitoun, forcing thousands of families, especially those trying to shelter in schools and the Ali Bin Abu Taleb Mosque to flee, heading to the northern and the western areas of Gaza City.
In addition, Israeli military helicopters fired many live rounds at the fleeing families in several parts of the city, especially in Zeitoun, Tal Al-Hawa, and Sabra, killing and wounding many Palestinians, while the Israeli navy also fired missiles and bursts of live fire at homes in Sheikh Ejleen and Tal Al-Hawa.
Many Palestinians were killed and injured in the Sabra neighborhood, in the center of Gaza City, especially after the army bombarded a home for the Abu Sharia family, trapping the Palestinians under the rubble.
In Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza, a Palestinian woman and her child were killed, and many were injured after the army targeted a home in the city.
At least eight Palestinians, including two children and a newborn, were killed when the army a missile at a home for the Eid family, in the western part of Rafah, in Gaza’s southmost part.
The army fired many missiles and shells at all areas around the Rafah Border Terminal, targeting homes and buildings in the eastern parts of Rafah, especially the Shouka and the Jneina areas.
In addition, Israeli navy ships fired hundreds of live rounds at the western areas of Rafah city, while the army fired artillery shells at many homes and buildings, including the City Council, in the southern part of the city.
At least three Palestinians were killed, and many were injured, when the army fired a missile at a mosque in the Al-Barazil neighborhood, south of the city.
Also, a Palestinian fisherman was killed at the shore of Khan Younis, while trying to fish to provide for his starving family.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israel committed four massacres against Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip in the least 24 hours, killing and wounding hundreds of Palestinians, including 110 slain and about 110 wounded who were moved to hospital while many remained under the rubble.
Israel had repeatedly claimed that it avoids civilian casualties.
Israel has repeatedly lied.
Please watch and share this video.
Israel targets unarmed civilians and destroys entire neighborhoods. pic.twitter.com/djxwei50UX
— Khalissee (@Kahlissee) May 8, 2024
It is worth mentioning that UNRWA said the Israeli army has displaced about 80.000 Palestinians from Rafah since it began its ground onslaught on Rafah, three days earlier.
More than 1.5 million Palestinians fled to Rafah, only about 65 square kilometers, facing very difficult conditions, the lack of basic services, food, and clean water, after being displaced from northern and central Gaza.
Rafah was the last refuge for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians since Israel began its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip on October 27, 2023, but now, the army is ordering the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were forced to flee northern and central Gaza, to return to the destroyed areas they were forced to escape.
Israel has now killed at least 34.904 Palestinians, including more than 9801 women and 14.873 children, and injured more than 78.514, mainly women, children, and elders, in addition to the thousands who remain under the rubble, on streets and destroyed alleys, since October 7, 2023.
