Israeli Airstrike Kills 33 In Gaza Post Office, Sparking Grief And Calls For Ceasefire

Dozens of Palestinian families gathered in grief on Friday at a Gaza hospital, mourning the 33 people killed in an Israeli airstrike on a post office in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The victims, including displaced families seeking refuge at the facility, were buried after prayers and recitations from the Koran. The attack, which took place late Thursday, also damaged several nearby houses.

Israel claimed it targeted a senior member of the Islamic Jihad group, accusing them of using civilian infrastructure as a shield for their activities. The Israeli military stated the strike was aimed at a militant responsible for attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers, though the identity of the individual was not disclosed.

The attack on the postal facility marks the latest chapter in the ongoing conflict, which has displaced millions in Gaza. Nuseirat, one of eight original refugee camps from the 1948 war, is home to a densely packed population of displaced people from across the region.

Louise Wateridge, a senior emergency officer for the UN Palestinian relief agency, described horrific scenes from the site, with parents desperately searching for their children and multiple injuries reported. UN continues to call for immediate humanitarian aid and an end to hostilities, as the conflict has left thousands dead and many more wounded.

On Friday, at least 12 more people were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including three in a tent housing displaced individuals and a local journalist in Gaza City. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that a ceasefire and hostage release deal might be close, following recent signals of movement from both sides.