Israeli strikes kill 12 in Gaza, including kids

Israeli airstrikes on homes in central Gaza killed at least 12 people including children, Palestinian hospital workers said on Wednesday, including two young brothers whose bodies arrived in pieces.

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Israel has been striking homes, shelters and public areas daily since resuming the war with Hamas last month. It has cut off the territory’s 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, for nearly two months. UN food stockpiles have run out and aid groups say thousands of Palestinian children are malnourished.

Israel says its blockade aims to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken on Oct 7, 2023. However, the UN high commissioner for human rights warned this week that starving civilians as a military tactic constitutes a war crime.

Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Health Ministry, including more than 2,200 in the six weeks since Israel shattered the ceasefire.

The United Nations humanitarian office describes severe shortages of food, water and medicine as medical services collapse and charity kitchens shut down.