Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza district of Khan Younis have claimed the lives of at least 12 Palestinians, including seven children, according to Gaza health officials.

These attacks have further devastated a region already overwhelmed by displacement and destruction.

Four Palestinian children were killed in a drone strike that hit their tent in the Al-Mawasi area, a coastal region where thousands of families forced from their homes are sheltering in makeshift tents. The Gaza health ministry confirmed that several tents were set ablaze, leaving more than 20 injured and causing widespread panic among the displaced.

These families, fleeing relentless Israeli bombardment in other parts of Gaza, had sought refuge in Al-Mawasi only to become the latest victims of what officials describe as indiscriminate attacks.

Another strike on a residential house in Khan Younis killed five people, including three children, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. Survivors described scenes of terror as homes were reduced to rubble, leaving survivors struggling to pull the injured from the wreckage.

The targeting of civilian areas, including tents and homes, has drawn condemnation from Palestinian officials and human rights groups, who have called for an immediate halt to the attacks. With the death toll rising and countless families left homeless, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate.

Observers note that the latest strikes highlight the disproportionate impact of the Israeli military campaign on Palestinian civilians, especially children. Advocacy groups are urging the international community to intervene and hold Israel accountable for what they describe as war crimes against a besieged population.

For Palestinians in Khan Younis and across Gaza, the airstrikes are a grim reminder of the ongoing violence and the urgent need for justice and peace in the region. (ILKHA)