Gaza rescuers say children among 11 killed in Israeli air strikes

Israeli air strikes early Wednesday killed at least 11 people across Gaza, including women and children, according to the territory's civil defense agency.

The deadliest strike hit a home in Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah neighborhood, killing 10 members of the Hassouna family, officials said. Rescue teams transported the victims, including several children, to Al-Shifa Hospital.

“Our teams transferred 10 martyrs and several wounded after the Hassouna family’s home was targeted,” said civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal.

In a separate incident, a child was killed in the southern city of Khan Yunis, rescue teams added.

The latest attacks come after Israel resumed its ground and air offensive on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire that had brought a temporary halt to the fighting.

Israeli leaders have repeatedly said the military campaign is necessary to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages taken during the group’s October 7 attack.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the offensive would continue until Hamas is defeated.

“If Hamas continues to refuse (to release hostages), operations will intensify and move to the next stage,” Katz said, without elaborating on what that stage would involve.

The Israeli military also announced it had recently killed Mahmud Ibrahim Abu Hisirah, a Hamas militant it says was involved in a 2014 cross-border tunnel attack that killed five Israeli soldiers.

The military said Abu Hisirah later served as a close aide to Ezzedine Haddad, a senior commander in Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades.

Since the resumption of Israeli operations in mid-March, at least 1,630 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since October 7, 2023 Hamas attack has killed over 51,000 people, created a massive humanitarian crisis, and widespread displacement.

Hamas’ cross-border raid into Israeli territory claimed 1,218 lives. It also took more than 250 people captive.