Gaza, Sept 4: Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 35 Palestinians as the conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants escalated. Despite the ongoing violence, brief pauses in fighting allowed for the continuation of a critical polio vaccination campaign for children in the besieged enclave.
Palestinian officials reported that the strikes hit multiple locations, including Rafah, Gaza City, and a college in the northern suburb of Sheikh Radwan. Among those killed were four women in Rafah, eight people near a hospital in Gaza City, and nine others inside a house in central Gaza City.
The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strikes, stating that they targeted Hamas militants, including a senior commander involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel. The commander, Ahmed Fozi Nazer Muhammad Wadia, was accused of orchestrating a massacre in the Netiv HaAsara community near the Gaza border.
Amid the devastation, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that its polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, now in its third day, had exceeded expectations, with over 161,000 children under 10 years old vaccinated so far. The campaign was launched in response to the discovery of a polio case in a Gazan baby last month and relies on temporary pauses in fighting to reach vulnerable populations.
However, hopes for a permanent ceasefire remain dim, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that Israeli troops stay in the strategically significant Philadelphi corridor, a major obstacle in peace negotiations. Hamas has demanded a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, further complicating diplomatic efforts.
The conflict, ignited by Hamas’ deadly October 7 assault that left 1,200 Israelis dead, has led to the deaths of more than 40,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. As the situation worsens, the international community continues to call for urgent action to halt the violence and address the humanitarian crisis.