At least 21 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured in a series of intense Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, according to local medical sources and the Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The attacks targeted densely populated residential areas, including Shuja’iyya, Jabalia al-Nazla, and Deir al-Balah, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.

In Shuja’iyya, east of Gaza City, three people were killed in a strike on Mansoura Street. In Jabalia al-Nazla, Israeli warplanes destroyed two homes belonging to the Nasr and Dada families, killing three and injuring five, with others still missing under the rubble.

Meanwhile, in central Gaza, ten civilians were killed in separate strikes on Al-Salam Street in Deir al-Balah and the Mufti area near Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Al-Awda Hospital and civil defense teams.

Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 56,000 Palestinians and injured more than 131,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The Israeli government claims the strikes target Hamas infrastructure, but international organizations have repeatedly condemned the disproportionate use of force and attacks on civilians.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents remain trapped under a land, sea, and air blockade imposed since 2007. The latest strikes have further crippled healthcare, education, and housing infrastructure, leaving thousands without shelter, clean water, or medical care.

Despite UN calls for a ceasefire and adherence to international humanitarian law, the bombardment continues unabated. Human rights groups warn of systematic impunity and potential war crimes, as civilians—especially women, children, and the elderly—bear the brunt of the violence.

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