At least 72 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Thursday as Israeli military operations intensified, according to Gaza's Hamas-linked civil defense agency.
Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told reporters that the casualties included 21 people who were reportedly gathered near an aid distribution point in central Gaza.
"Due to the ongoing Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip since dawn today, 21 of them were waiting for aid," Bassal said.
Airstrikes in Eastern Gaza City
A large column of fire and smoke was seen rising over eastern Gaza City following a series of Israeli airstrikes in the Tuffah neighborhood. Local residents described heavy explosions and collapsed buildings in the area.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), responding to inquiries, said that troops had fired warning shots toward those approaching their forces in the Netzarim corridor, an area near where 15 of the reported deaths occurred.
"We are not aware of any injured persons," the IDF added regarding that specific engagement.
Verification Challenges
The reported death toll has not been independently verified, and humanitarian access to confirm these claims remains extremely limited due to ongoing hostilities and restricted entry for international observers and journalists.
This incident occurs amid continuing tensions in the region, with both sides providing conflicting accounts of events on the ground.
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