Israeli airstrikes ‘kill 70 residents fleeing Gaza’ as Palestinian death toll hits 1,900

Israali airstrikes on convoys fleeing Gaza City have reportedly killed 70 people, mostly women and children.

According to Palestinian militant group Hamas, the cars were struck in three places as they were heading south from Gaza City on Friday.

Israeli military had earlier asked residents of north Gaza to relocate to the south of the Strip in 24 hours ahead of a ground invasion.

However, Hamas asked the people to stay and defy Israel’s order.

Commenting on the airstrikes, Peter Lerner, lieutenant colonel of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), said the military is “looking into the circumstances”.

“I’m not aware of any IDF strikes at this time to that location but we will be updating throughout the day,” Lerner told Sky News.

He also accused Hamas of booby trapping roads and using civilians as human shields.

On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented and coordinated land, air and sea incursion of Israel which reportedly killed 1,300 Israelis.

Hamas kidnapped at least 150 Israelis and took them into Gaza. Afterwards, the group commenced the launching of rockets into Israeli territory.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 1,900 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes including 614 children and 370 women.

About 1300 Israelis have been reportedly killed since the attack, with 3,400 wounded.

ISRAEL RETRIEVES BODIES OF SEVERAL MISSING PERSONS

The Israeli army said it has retrieved the bodies of several Israelis who have been missing since Hamas’ attack on Saturday.

Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesperson, said the bodies were recovered when the Israeli forces entered the Gaza Strip on Friday.

Hagari added that families of the missing persons have been notified.

The military also said it has confirmed that more than 120 civilians are being held captive by Hamas.

THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS DISPLACED

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), tens of thousands of people in Gaza have evacuated to the south following Israel’s evacuation warning.

It said more than 400,000 Palestininas had already been displaced before the order.