GAZA CITY — Israeli forces intensified their bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Saturday, killing at least 30 Palestinians as tanks advanced deeper into western and northern Rafah, according to health officials.
Among those killed were local journalist Mohammad Abu Jasser, his wife, and two children, in an Israeli strike on their home in the northern Gaza Strip, a medic reported. Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office stated that Abu Jasser’s death brought the number of Palestinian media personnel killed by Israeli fire since October 7 to 161.
Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed 37 Palestinians in the past 24 hours and destroyed several houses. In Al-Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, an air strike on a multi-story building wounded several people, including two local journalists, rescue workers said.
In Rafah, where Israel aims to dismantle the last battalions of Hamas’ armed wing, residents reported that tanks advanced deeper into northern areas of the city and took control of a hilltop in the west amid fierce gun battles with Hamas-led fighters. The army stated that troops continued operations in Rafah, eliminating many gunmen in the Tel Al-Sultan area on the western side of the city. In central Gaza, the military conducted raids on militant infrastructure.
The military also targeted a structure used by Palestinian militants in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, alleging that gunmen were operating from a humanitarian area. Israel accused Gaza militants of exploiting civilian structures and populations for military purposes, a claim Hamas and other groups reject as false.
Efforts for a ceasefire, led by Qatar and Egypt and backed by the United States, have so far failed due to disputes between the combatants, who blame each other for the impasse.
Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas after its fighters killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in an October 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies. At least 38,919 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive since then, according to Gaza health authorities.
On Tuesday, Israel claimed it had eliminated half the leadership of Hamas’ military wing and killed or captured about 14,000 fighters since the war began. Israel reported 326 of its soldiers have been killed in Gaza.
Hamas does not release casualty figures and accused Israel of exaggerating its reports to create a “fake victory” impression.
