At least 17 Palestinians, including children, were killed and many more injured early Sunday as Israeli warplanes unleashed a fresh wave of deadly airstrikes across the besieged Gaza Strip.

The attacks, which targeted densely populated civilian areas, mark another grim chapter in Israel's ongoing genocidal campaign that has devastated the territory since October 2023.

According to medical sources and eyewitnesses, the deadliest attack struck the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northern Gaza City, where an Israeli airstrike flattened a residential home belonging to the Abu Sharkh family. The home was sheltering displaced members of the Abu Shukyan and Suhweil families, who had sought refuge after fleeing previous bombings. At least 10 civilians, including women and children, were confirmed dead, with several more injured and others still trapped beneath the rubble.

In a separate strike, four members of the Safadi family were killed when Israeli jets targeted their home on Yafa Street in Gaza City's Al-Tuffah neighborhood. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as first responders struggled to recover bodies from the debris amid ongoing aerial bombardments.

Meanwhile, in southern Gaza, Israeli drone strikes hit tents housing displaced Palestinians in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Three civilians from the Sharif and Farhat families were killed, further compounding the humanitarian disaster unfolding in makeshift encampments already stretched beyond capacity.

Since the start of Israel’s assault in October 2023, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 135,000 injured. Thousands more are feared buried under collapsed buildings, unreachable due to relentless bombardments and the collapse of emergency services.

Despite mounting global condemnation and clear directives from the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice calling for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians, Israel’s military campaign has continued unabated. Legal experts and human rights groups have increasingly described the ongoing assault as genocidal, citing the deliberate targeting of residential areas and infrastructure critical to civilian survival.

The latest attacks come as Gaza endures one of the most severe humanitarian crises in modern history, with widespread famine, collapsed medical services, and mass displacement affecting nearly every resident of the enclave.

International calls for accountability grow louder, but for Gaza’s besieged population, hope remains scarce as airstrikes continue to shatter lives and families with impunity. (ILKHA)