Gaza, June 21 (V7N) – Despite an ongoing conflict with Iran, Israel has continued its relentless assault on the besieged Gaza Strip. On Friday alone, at least 82 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across the enclave, according to local health officials.

The deadliest strikes were reported in central Gaza, where 37 people lost their lives. Among them, 23 were civilians who were reportedly killed while attempting to collect humanitarian aid. In Gaza City, 23 more individuals were killed as Israeli bombardments struck residential areas and makeshift shelters housing displaced families. In southern Gaza, 22 people were confirmed dead, including 11 who were also trying to access food aid at the time of the strikes.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and devastation, as rescue teams worked to retrieve bodies from beneath the rubble. Emergency rooms, already overwhelmed and under-supplied, struggled to care for the injured, many of whom were women and children. Medical staff have warned of an imminent collapse of healthcare services if attacks on hospitals and aid convoys persist.

The strikes come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007. Over 37,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since October 2023, with thousands more injured or displaced. The majority of the casualties, according to health authorities and aid agencies, are civilians.

The international community has repeatedly expressed concern over the high civilian death toll and the targeting of aid seekers. Several human rights organizations have labeled the actions as violations of international humanitarian law, and the International Criminal Court (ICC) continues to investigate possible war crimes.

Israel maintains that its military operations are aimed at Hamas and other armed groups operating from within densely populated areas. However, critics argue that the scale and pattern of the attacks show a disregard for civilian life and violate the principles of proportionality and distinction in armed conflict.

As regional tensions rise and the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens, global leaders are under increasing pressure to push for an immediate ceasefire and ensure the protection of civilians. Friday’s toll of 82 lives lost underscores the urgent need for international intervention to prevent further bloodshed.

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