Funeral prayers took place Thursday in Gaza City for 10 individuals who died in overnight Israeli military strikes, including five children, an elderly person, and one Hamas fighter.
The strikes wounded more than 20 people, according to Shifa Hospital officials. Footage from the attack site revealed flames erupting from an upper floor window while onlookers hurried to transport injured victims, including children, to waiting ambulances.
Mohammed Shawish, who suffered injuries and lost his spouse in the attack, wept while holding her remains at the hospital morgue. “I married my wife for love. For God’s sake, I chose her because of love,” he said.
The military action occurred during the first day of Eid al-Adha, known as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” a significant Islamic celebration observed by Muslims around the globe. Israeli military officials stated Wednesday evening they had conducted operations in northern Gaza targeting two Hamas fighters.
Hamas fighter Imad Isleim was among the fatalities. Mourners carried his remains Thursday, wrapped in white cloth with a Hamas banner placed on top. His relative Nidal Isleim described his death as a “shock” to the family, despite knowing such an outcome was always possible.
The military operations coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Thursday announcement that Israel was broadening its territorial control in Gaza.
“Right now we are tightening the grip on Hamas,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Thursday during a conference in Jordan. “We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. You know that? We were at 50%, we moved to 60%.”
He indicated the following phase would involve advancing to 70% control, with Israel “tightening the grip” on Hamas “from every direction.”
“We will deal with the remnants,” Netanyahu stated. “But the most important thing is to continue leveraging our power, to increase it.”
The conference formed part of broader discussions covering the conflict, Iran, Hezbollah, Gaza and regional strategy.
“There is still more work. What is happening right now is truly a global change. There is no doubt about that,” Netanyahu added.
Earlier this week, Israeli forces killed Mohammed Odeh, the recently named commander of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, less than two weeks following his predecessor’s death.
Throughout Gaza, 16 people died and 39 sustained injuries during the previous 48 hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry’s Thursday update. The ministry operates under Gaza’s Hamas-run government but employs medical professionals who compile and release comprehensive records considered generally credible by the international community.
Following a fragile ceasefire that began last October, 922 people have died in Gaza and 2,786 others have been wounded, the ministry reported.
