The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killing machine continues its dirty work in Gaza without letup. Israeli airstrikes killed more than 60 Palestinians in southern and central Gaza over July 15-16, including one that struck an Israeli-declared “safe zone” crowded with thousands of displaced people, AP reported. Airstrikes in recent days have brought a constant drumbeat of deaths of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, even as Israel has pulled back or scaled down major ground offensives in the north and south. Almost daily strikes have hit the “safe zone,” covering some 60 sq km along the Mediterranean coast, where Israel told fleeing Palestinians to take refuge in order to escape ground assaults. Israel has said it is pursuing Hamas militants who are hiding among civilians, after offensives uprooted underground tunnel networks.
The July 16 deadliest strike hit a main street lined with market stalls, outside the southern city of Khan Younis in Muwasi, at the heart of the zone that is packed with tent camps. Officials at Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital said 17 people were killed. Apparently referring to the strike, the Israeli military claimed in a statement that it targeted a commander in Islamic Jihad’s naval unit west of Khan Younis. It said it was looking into reports that civilians were killed.
Strikes hit market stalls in Khan Younis, and the Nuseirat and Zawaida refugee camps in central Gaza. Strikes on four houses killed at least 41 people, including 10 women and 4 children, according to officials at Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
