Israeli Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Gaza

Dozens of Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Sunday in Israeli military strikes.

At least 38 people died in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in one day, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry's report on Sunday, as cited by the dpa news agency.

The ministry said that a further 204 people were injured during the past 24 hours. The ministry added that the figures do not include victims registered in hospitals in northern Gaza because access to the area is currently too difficult.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported about 23 dead, citing local health authorities.

The dead included a local journalist and a senior rescue service official.

Israeli strikes were carried out in Khan Younis in the south, Jabalia in the north, and Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, according to medics.

In Jabalia, local journalist Hassan Majdi Abu Warda and several of his family members were killed when an airstrike hit their house on Sunday morning.

Medics added that another airstrike in Nuseirat killed Ashraf Abu Nar, a senior official in the territory's civil emergency service, and his wife in their home.

Later in the day, the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC said in a statement that two of its staff had been killed in a strike on a house in Khan Younis on Saturday.

"The ICRC reiterates its urgent call for a ceasefire and for the respect and protection of civilians, including medical, humanitarian, relief and civil defence personnel," said the statement.

In recent days, the Israeli army has increased its operations in Gaza. On Saturday afternoon, the military announced that it had carried out strikes on more than 100 targets throughout Gaza over the past day.

Israel planning to step up Gaza offensive, media say

Meanwhile, a senior Israeli commander announced that the Israeli military is intensifying its operations in the Gaza Strip.

"We are intensifying our activity in accordance with the established plan," said Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir.

"Hamas is under immense pressure. It has lost most of its assets and its command and control," Zamir said during a visit to troops in the city of Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip.
"We will deploy every tool at our disposal to bring the hostages home, dismantle Hamas, and dismantle its rule," he asserted.

The Times of Israel and other local media reported on Sunday, citing the army, that Israel's military has moved all of its regular infantry and tank brigades into the Gaza Strip.

Although the military said it would not provide further details on the deployment of its forces, The Times of Israel reported that the army is preparing to further intensify its offensive in Gaza.

Recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to take control of the entire Gaza Strip. Around a week ago, the Israeli armed forces launched a new major offensive in Gaza.

On Saturday, Gaza's Health Ministry announced that at least 3,785 people had been killed in the territory since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18.

A version of this article was first published on DW.

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