Children Shredded and Women Burnt Alive: Israeli Strikes Kill 27 in Gaza

Local health officials reported Israeli airstrikes throughout Gaza led to the death of at least 27 Palestinians overnight, including many women and children.

The attacks hit homes in Beit Lahiya, Gaza City, and Khan Younis, including one attack that killed a released Palestinian prisoner and his family.

The airstrike is one of thousands carried out by Israel in the past year and a half, and these massacres are an almost daily occurrence, amid the ongoing blockade.

Israel’s blockade in Gaza, which has prevented food and medicine from flowing in since March, has stranded 2 million Gazans who now depend on dwindling sources of aid. According to the UN, most residents are eating one meal a day or fewer and reject Israel’s argument that aid was able to flow into Gaza during the ceasefire in November.

In addition, humanitarian organizations rejected Israel’s claims, that Hamas diverts aid, saying a monitoring system with strong and specific procedures is already in place prevent diversion.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) held hearings starting on Monday into Israel's legal obligations to allow aid into Gaza. Israel says the hearings are biased and says it complies with international law.

The Israeli army has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and destroyed massive areas of Gaza. Hamas is holding 59 hostages, 24 of which are still thought to be alive, and they are demanding a prisoner swap and a ceasefire before releasing them.