GAZA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 Palestinians were killed and several others wounded on Wednesday when an Israeli army strike targeted a vehicle carrying a displaced family near the entrance of Al-Shifa hospital in western Gaza City, medical sources and eyewitnesses said.
The sources said an Israeli drone hit the vehicle as the family tried to flee south, killing most of those on board. The wounded and bodies were taken to the hospital.
The strike followed a similar attack on Tuesday, when another vehicle carrying a displaced family in western Gaza City was hit, leaving five dead and several injured after the car caught fire, according to Gaza health authorities.
Local residents said Israeli forces have intensified aerial and ground operations in Gaza City and surrounding areas in recent days, prompting thousands of civilians to flee south amid worsening humanitarian conditions marked by shortages of medical supplies, fuel, and food.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops had begun operating in the Gaza City area. "The troops are eliminating terrorists and dismantling military structures used by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip," it said. The IDF added that over the past two days, air and artillery strikes had hit more than 150 "terror targets" across Gaza City in support of ground operations.
Israel resumed intensive military operations in the enclave on March 18. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 12,511 Palestinians have been killed and 53,656 injured since then, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 65,062 and injuries to 165,697. ■
