Gaza hospitals have started admitting scores of wounded residents, including children, as Israel ramps up its offensive in Gaza. FRANCE 24 reports from the hospitals and streets of the Palestinian enclave.
Israeli airstrikes killed more than 35 Palestinians, including women and children, in the past 24 hours, with hundreds more wounded, according to local emergency services.
Wael Hamada, a resident of Bet Lahyia in northern Gaza, stood near his wounded son in a hospital on Thursday. He said Israeli intelligence called his home to warn them to evacuate, but the first missile struck just as he hung up the phone.
Meanwhile, Gaza militants continued launching hundreds of mortar and missile attacks targeting Israeli cities, sometimes deep in the Jewish state’s territory. No Israelis have been killed from the rocket fire so far.
Residents of the Palestinian enclave fearful of a military escalation were stocking up on food, fuel and other goods.
Bakers told FRANCE 24 they were already running out of some ingredients for bread and would have to stop working when generators gave out.
While Israeli and Palestinian leaders traded blame for the new surge in deadly violence, many Gaza residents said they only hoped that calm would return to the territory.