A series of Israeli strikes this morning on the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis killed five more people, medics reported, quoted by the Associated Press, writes BTA.
This brings the number of people killed in Israeli attacks in the Palestinian territory in the past 12 hours to 33. These are some of the deadliest strikes in Gaza since a ceasefire in the strip came into effect on October 10, notes the AP.
The latest escalation in tensions comes after Israeli forces said their soldiers came under fire yesterday in Khan Yunis. Israel said no soldiers were injured and that it had responded to the attacks.
Four Israeli strikes last night and this morning on tents housing displaced Palestinians in Khan Younis killed 17 people, including five women and five children, officials at Nasr Hospital said.
In Gaza City, 16 people, including seven children and three women, were killed in two Israeli strikes, officials at Ash Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken, said.
"Hamas" condemned the Israeli strikes as "a shocking massacre". In a statement, the group denied firing on Israeli troops.
A crowd gathered at Nasr Hospital to bid farewell to those killed in Israeli strikes. Women sobbed over the bodies of their loved ones, wrapped in white funeral sheets, the AP reported.