At least 70 Palestinians have been killed in a fresh wave of Israeli air and ground attacks across Gaza on Sunday, according to medical sources on the ground.
The heaviest toll was recorded in Gaza City, where 35 people were reportedly killed as Israeli forces intensified their bombardment. The Israeli air force confirmed 150 strikes in the past 24 hours, including land operations in Beit Hanoon in northern Gaza and continued assaults on Khan Younis in the south.
Among the casualties was Dr Ahmad Qandeel, a general surgery consultant at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in northern Gaza. He was killed in a drone strike targeting a public market, which claimed 15 lives in total.
In a statement, Gaza’s Health Ministry mourned Dr Qandeel, calling him “a pillar of the devastated healthcare community” who had “worked day and night to provide medical care under the most difficult circumstances” imposed by the ongoing siege.
His death highlights the increasing toll on Gaza’s medical sector. Since October 2023, over 1,580 health workers have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. This includes 91 doctors and 132 nurses.
The attacks come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis, as hospitals struggle to function under relentless bombardment, severe shortages of medical supplies, and widespread displacement.
The international community continues to call for a ceasefire, but hostilities have shown little sign of abating. Civilian casualties, particularly among health workers and children, have drawn growing condemnation from global human rights groups and the UN.
