Israeli airstrikes kill 23 in Gaza as outcry over aid blockade grows

DEIR AL-BALAH Gaza City AP Israeli airstrikes overnight and into Saturday killed at least Palestinians in Gaza including three children and their parents whose tent was bombed in Gaza City fitness administrators commented The bombardment continued as international warnings grow over Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza as Israel s blockade on the territory of over million people is in its third month The U N and aid groups have rejected Israel s aid distribution moves including a plan from a group of American shield contractors ex-military officers and humanitarian aid authorities calling itself the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Among the bodies brought to hospitals over the past hours were those of the family of five whose tent was struck in Gaza City s Sabra district Gaza s Healthcare Ministry announced Another Israeli strike late Friday hit a warehouse belonging to UNRWA the U N agency for Palestinian refugees in the northern area of Jabaliya Four people were killed according to the Indonesian Hospital where bodies were taken AP video demonstrated fires burning in the shattered building The warehouse was empty after being hit and raided multiple times during Israeli ground offensives against Hamas fighters over the past year noted residents including Hamza Mohamed Israel s military revealed nine soldiers were lightly wounded Friday night by an explosive device while searching Gaza City s Shijaiyah neighborhood It explained they were evacuated to a hospital in Israel Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza on March shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas Ground troops have seized more than half the territory and have been conducting raids and searching parts of northern Gaza and the southernmost city of Rafah Large parts of both areas have been flattened by months of Israeli operations Under Israel s blockade charity kitchens are virtually the only source of food left in Gaza but dozens have shut down in latest days as food supplies run out Aid groups say more closures are imminent Israel has commented the blockade is meant to pressure Hamas to release remaining hostages and disarm Rights groups have called the blockade a starvation tactic and a probable war crime Israel accuses Hamas and other militants of siphoning off aid in Gaza though it hasn t presented evidence for its alleges The U N denies substantial diversion takes place saying it monitors distribution The -month-old war in Gaza is the majority devastating ever fought between Israel and Hamas It has killed more than people there more than half of them women and children and wounded more than according to the Strength Ministry The ministry s count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants Israel says it has killed thousands of militants without giving evidence Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Oct attack on southern Israel in which militants killed around people mostly civilians and kidnapped over others Hamas still holds about hostages with around a third concluded to still be alive Hamas disclosed a video Saturday showing hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana who appeared under duress They were abducted during the Oct attack from a music festival where over people were killed Hamas distributed a video of them a month and half ago and has issued several videos of Bohbot alone since then Protesters on Saturday night rallied once more in Tel Aviv to demand a ceasefire that would bring all hostages home Can you grasp this The Israeli regime is about to embark on a military operation that could and will endanger the lives of the hostages Michel Illouz father of hostage Guy Illouz described the gathering referring to the plan to vastly expand operations in Gaza