Strikes target displaced civilians in Khan Yunis, Gaza City, and Deir el-Balah amid rising regional tensions
Gaza Strip, June 5 — BanglaSpot Report:
At least 10 Palestinians were killed on Thursday as Israeli forces carried out multiple airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, intensifying the deadly conflict that has left the region reeling under continuous violence. According to local rescue officials, the attacks struck areas with a high concentration of displaced civilians, particularly in the southern city of Khan Yunis and parts of Gaza City.
The Gaza civil defence agency confirmed the casualties and reported widespread destruction, including homes and temporary shelters where families had taken refuge from earlier attacks. The agency’s spokesman, Mahmud Bassal, said rescue teams were struggling to recover victims trapped under debris while continuing search operations amid ongoing threats of further strikes.
“The situation is catastrophic. The Israeli airstrikes hit areas where displaced people had gathered. At least 10 people are confirmed dead, and many others are injured or still missing,” said Bassal in a statement on Thursday evening.
Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
The deadliest strikes reportedly hit Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, where hundreds of families had relocated after fleeing earlier bombardments in the north. Witnesses said residential homes were leveled without warning. Rescue teams worked into the night to pull survivors from beneath collapsed buildings.
In Gaza City, another strike targeted a residential block, killing several members of the same family, including women and children. Civil defence workers described a “horrific scene,” with bodies strewn across the rubble and survivors wailing for help.
Meanwhile, in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, at least one building was flattened, resulting in multiple injuries. The neighborhood had become a makeshift refuge for displaced families, many of whom had no access to food, clean water, or medical supplies.
Local hospitals, already overwhelmed by weeks of violence, issued urgent calls for blood donations and emergency medical assistance. Medical personnel reported a shortage of essential supplies, and some patients had to be treated on the floor due to lack of beds.
Israeli Military Response
While the Israeli military has not issued a detailed comment on the specific strikes reported Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has previously stated that its operations target Hamas and other militant infrastructure. In a statement earlier this week, Israeli authorities claimed they were conducting “precision strikes” against militant operatives responsible for recent rocket attacks into Israeli territory.
However, human rights organizations and Gaza officials have repeatedly accused Israel of indiscriminate bombings, resulting in high civilian casualties. Eyewitnesses and independent observers have also questioned the accuracy of so-called “precision” strikes, citing a pattern of attacks on schools, hospitals, and residential areas.
Global Reaction and Calls for Restraint
The latest wave of violence has triggered renewed international concern. The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire and warned that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is spiraling out of control. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the loss of civilian life and urged both sides to de-escalate tensions and return to diplomatic negotiations.
The European Union, through its foreign affairs representative, also expressed deep concern over the continued bombardment of densely populated areas. “Civilians, especially children and families, must be protected at all costs,” the EU statement read.
Meanwhile, regional powers including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar have opened emergency talks to attempt to mediate a pause in hostilities. So far, no significant diplomatic breakthrough has been reported.
The Broader Context of the Conflict
The ongoing violence is part of a broader conflict that has spanned decades, but tensions escalated dramatically following a recent surge in rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel, and retaliatory air raids by Israeli forces. This cycle of attacks and counterattacks has fueled a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has been under a blockade since 2007.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed in the past two months, with thousands injured and tens of thousands displaced. The infrastructure damage is severe, with schools, clinics, and water systems destroyed or nonfunctional.
Israel has also suffered casualties from rocket fire launched by Gaza-based militant groups, though its Iron Dome missile defense system has intercepted many of them.
Voices from the Ground
For residents of Gaza, the trauma is unending. “We have no safe place left,” said Fatima Al-Najjar, a mother of three from Gaza City. “We are running from one place to another, and still, we are being bombed. My children are terrified.”
Aid groups report that mental health crises are rising, particularly among children who have lived their entire lives amid conflict. Schools have been closed, and basic services like electricity and clean water remain sporadic.
Despite the danger, civil defence teams continue working day and night to rescue trapped individuals and assist the wounded. One volunteer, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said, “We do what we can. But we need the world to see what is happening here — to feel our pain.”
Conclusion
As the dust settles from the latest Israeli airstrikes, Gaza mourns yet another round of casualties in a war that seems to have no end in sight. With diplomatic efforts faltering and ground realities worsening, the people of Gaza are left to endure yet another chapter of devastation.
BanglaSpot will continue to monitor developments in this crisis and provide updates as they become available.
