GAZA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli strikes across Gaza on Wednesday rose to 25, the Gaza Civil Defense said, updating an earlier count of 10.
Mahmoud Basal, the Civil Defense spokesman, told Xinhua that 11 people were killed in an airstrike on a building in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood of southern Gaza City. The building had been sheltering dozens of displaced families, and the victims included women and children.
Near the Al-Shujaiya junction in eastern Gaza City, two separate strikes killed at least two people and injured 10 others. In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, at least 12 people were killed, including two children, Basal said.
Residents and local sources said the strikes caused panic, particularly in Al-Zeitoun and Al-Shujaiya, forcing some families to flee toward central Gaza City. The situation remains tense as Israeli aircraft and artillery continue operations, raising fears of further escalation.
Israel said it launched the airstrikes in response to gunfire at troops operating in southern Gaza. Militants opened fire near Israeli forces in Khan Younis, an area still under Israeli control under a ceasefire that began on Oct. 10. No Israeli soldiers were reported hurt.
"In response, the IDF began striking Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip," the military said, adding that troops will continue operations to "remove any imminent threat."
Wednesday was one of the deadliest days for Gazans since the ceasefire took effect. Since the start of the fragile truce, at least 280 Palestinians have been killed and more than 670 wounded by Israeli fire, according to previous reports from the Gaza health authorities. Nearly 70,000 people have died since the conflict began two years ago. ■
