Israeli strike kills Gaza child Noor
Dozens dead as families flee amid rising humanitarian crisis
An Israeli airstrike on a residential block in Gaza City killed a five‑year‑old girl, Noor, and injured several family members, sparking a desperate search for survivors amid thick smoke and flames. The strike hit the Zeitoun neighbourhood, where the family had already fled after a previous attack destroyed their home. Father Nidal Daloul found Noor under the rubble, but she died in an ambulance. Local civil‑defence teams battled the blaze while residents called her name, clutching shattered furniture and clothing.
Health authorities reported at least 25 deaths across the enclave on the same day, most in Gaza City, as Israeli tanks advanced deeper into the Sheikh Radwan, Jala Street and Tel Al‑Hawa districts. Israel says the city is Hamas’s last stronghold and justifies demolishing housing blocks it claims are used by militants. Hamas and residents, however, insist the targeted area was purely residential with no combatants present.
Since the war began in October 2023, Gaza’s health ministry estimates more than 65,000 Palestinians—predominantly civilians—have been killed, while famine, widespread destruction and repeated displacement have devastated the population. Families now face extreme hardship traveling south; a bus hired for evacuation costs $600‑$750, diesel prices have risen to $30‑$36 per barrel, and broken roads leave many stranded for days, forcing women and children to walk on foot.
The latest strike bombing that destroyed additional residential buildings, killing at least 31 people and prompting further flight. Israeli estimates claim over 450,000 residents have left Gaza City since September, a figure disputed by Hamas, which says fewer than 300,000 have evacuated and about 900,000 remain.
Human‑rights groups warn the civilian toll, especially among children, is escalating, while hospitals, already overwhelmed and low on supplies, struggle to treat the wounded. The incident underscores the growing humanitarian crisis as diplomatic efforts at the United Nations remain stalled and the conflict shows no sign of abating.
