On the first day of Eid al-Adha, one of Islam’s holiest festivals, Israeli military operations in Gaza killed at least 42 Palestinians, Palestinian officials and medical sources reported.
The deadly attacks included airstrikes and heavy shelling across multiple areas of the besieged enclave, continuing the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the region.
Israeli forces carried out multiple raids in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, targeting residential neighborhoods with artillery and airstrikes.
Eyewitnesses described plumes of smoke rising as the shelling intensified. A child was reportedly shot dead near the Al-Saraya detention area, while another civilian died from injuries sustained in a prior strike.
A drone strike hit a mobile phone charging station between tents sheltering displaced families west of Khan Younis, killing four Palestinians and injuring others.
In Rafah, near an aid distribution center—a known target of repeated Israeli attacks—four more people lost their lives.
In the northern Gaza Strip, nine Palestinians were killed when Israeli forces bombed homes in Jabalia, with the wounded rushed to Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.
Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah neighborhood also endured heavy shelling, while air raids struck Jabalia town, further devastating residential areas.
Despite the ongoing violence, many Palestinians observed Eid prayers amid the rubble of destroyed homes, illustrating their resilience in the face of relentless assault.
This is the fourth consecutive Eid al-Adha marked under the shadow of war since the outbreak of Israel’s offensive on October 7, 2023.
The campaign has killed nearly 54,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, while causing widespread destruction and humanitarian catastrophe.
International aid agencies have warned of looming famine for Gaza’s more than 2 million residents, trapped under siege.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes, and a genocide case against Israel is ongoing at the International Court of Justice.
Despite global calls for ceasefire, Israel continues its military operations, exacerbating the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population.
