24 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza: sources

GAZA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — At least 24 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes in central and southern Gaza on Tuesday, Palestinian sources said.
Israeli warplanes hit a four-story residential building in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, killing 16 people, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense Authority.
Palestinian security sources reported that the camp had been under heavy air and artillery bombardment since overnight, with limited advances by Israeli vehicles on its eastern edges. They added that the strikes were accompanied by gunfire from Israeli vehicles and drones in the camp’s streets and alleys.
In a separate incident, eight people were killed and dozens injured when an Israeli drone targeted a gathering of Palestinians at a water filling station north of Rafah in southern Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed ongoing operations in Gaza, stating that troops were dismantling militant infrastructure and killing fighters in targeted raids. The IDF said they have conducted operations in Bureij and were continuing similar actions in the Rafah area.
Also on Tuesday, the Hamas-run health authorities warned in a statement that hospitals in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip may soon cease operations due to a lack of fuel.
They urged international and humanitarian organizations to act swiftly to deliver the necessary fuel to power generators at healthcare facilities. They also emphasized the need for serious protection of health facilities, particularly in the North Gaza Governorate.
Israel’s large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza followed the militant group’s attack on Oct. 7, 2023, on southern Israel, which left about 1,200 people dead and around 250 taken hostage.
Gaza health authorities said the Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks has reached 41,965 as of Tuesday. ■