20 KILLED AT GAZA FOOD HUB AS ISRAEL CONTINUES STRIKES IN SYRIA
At least 20 people were killed and dozens more injured in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike targeted what local officials described as a food distribution hub in central Gaza. The deadly incident comes amid escalating violence in the region, with Israel also intensifying its military operations in neighboring Syria.
The strike in Gaza occurred in the Deir al-Balah area, where displaced civilians had gathered to receive food and humanitarian aid. According to Palestinian health authorities and aid workers on the ground, the area had been functioning as a relief point for thousands affected by the ongoing conflict. Eyewitnesses described a sudden explosion that tore through tents and aid storage units, leaving charred bodies and widespread devastation.
Footage from the scene showed rescuers and volunteers scrambling to recover the dead and treat the wounded. Ambulances rushed to overwhelmed hospitals, many of which are already operating at minimal capacity due to ongoing siege conditions and shortages of medical supplies. The Ministry of Health in Gaza condemned the strike, labeling it a “massacre” and accusing Israel of deliberately targeting civilians seeking aid.
The Israeli military, in a brief statement, acknowledged conducting airstrikes in central Gaza but maintained that its operations were aimed at “legitimate military targets.” It claimed that the targeted site was being used by Hamas militants to store weapons and coordinate attacks, though this claim has not been independently verified. The IDF stated it would review the incident but insisted it adheres to international laws of armed conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel also continued its operations in Syria, where it has carried out a series of airstrikes in recent days. Israeli jets reportedly hit military positions near Damascus and Aleppo, targeting Iranian-linked militias and weapons depots. The strikes in Syria are part of Israel’s broader regional campaign to curb Iranian influence and prevent the transfer of advanced weapons to Hezbollah and other proxy groups.
Syrian state media confirmed the attacks and reported material damage and injuries, though it did not provide casualty figures. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, claimed that at least six people were killed, including two Syrian soldiers and four foreign fighters.
These latest developments come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, where the war in Gaza has had a destabilizing ripple effect. Cross-border exchanges between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in northern Israel and southern Lebanon have intensified, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
International reactions have been swift. The United Nations called for an immediate investigation into the Gaza strike and urged all parties to respect humanitarian principles. Aid organizations expressed outrage, with several warning that continued attacks on relief centers could halt critical aid deliveries.
As the conflict rages on, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with the death toll surpassing 38,000 since the war began. With no ceasefire in sight, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence — from the crowded streets of Gaza to the skies over Syria.