At least 38 people killed as Israeli strikes on Gaza continue
25 May 2025, 19:32 | Updated: 25 May 2025, 19:37
Palestinian officials say that at least 38 more people have been killed in the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza over the past 24 hours.
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Gaza's health ministry - which is controlled by Hamas - says the victims include a mother and her two children sheltering in a tent in the central city of Deir al-Balah.
Another strike in the northern area of Jabaliya reportedly killed at least five people, including two women and a child.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are yet to comment on the latest strikes.
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The ministry now reports at least 3,785 people have been killed in the territory since March, when Israel ended a ceasefire and renewed their military offensive.
More details are also emerging of separate strikes on Friday, which killed upwards of 79 people.
Local paediatrician Alaa al-Najjar lost nine of her 10 children; she came home to discover her house on fire, with nine of her children aged 12 to seven months killed in the wreckage.
It’s been confirmed that the charred remains of these children were delivered to the morgue in a single body bag.
Ms al-Najjar’s husband and surviving 11-year-old child were badly hurt.
A statement from the IDF confirmed they had struck more than 100 targets in Gaza on Friday.
They said they were targeting suspects operating from a structure next to its forces, and described the area of Khan Younis as a “dangerous warzone”.
The IDF added they had evacuated civilians from the area, and “the claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review”.
No statement has yet been released for Saturday’s strikes.
Israel officials did say on Sunday that they had successfully intercepted another Houthi missile from Yemen, marking the third attack in four days.
The October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas killed 1,200 people with 251 people abducted.
The retaliatory offensive on Gaza has destroyed large sections of the territory.
Israel says it will continue to strike until Hamas disarms, and returns the remaining 58 Israeli hostages - though fewer than half of the hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive.
Hamas insists it will only return the hostages upon the return of more Palestinian prisoners, as well as a lasting ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from the territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected these terms, vowing to maintain control of Gaza and what he refers to as the “voluntary emigration” of much of its Palestinian population.
Israel announced earlier this month it would be launching a major ground offensive to “seize and control” areas of Gaza.
It began with a preliminary strike on around 150 sites - killing more than 300 people.
This offensive came amid an eleven-week blockade on the territory, which restricted resources to its more than 2-million residents.
Codenamed “Gideon’s Chariots”, the offensive has attracted much condemnation.
Israel had been facing pressure from the United Nations, as well as its own allies to allow more aid into the area, as warnings and images of famine had been circulating since the blockade.
As well as the UK, France and Canada threatening “concrete actions” if Israel continued its “egregious” military expansion in Gaza, Mr Netanyahu’s government has received multiple condemnations from the UN.
The blockade was eased on Monday, and the UN confirmed on Thursday that 90 lorries of aid had been allowed over the border after a three-day delay.
However, it added this was “nowhere near enough to meet the vast needs in Gaza”.
On Friday, UN Secretary General António Guterres said that the aid authorised by Israel equated to a “teaspoon” when a “flood of aid” would be required.
