The Israeli operation to rescue four hostages in the town of Nuseirat in central Gaza on Saturday turned into a devastating tragedy, as more than 200 people were killed in the heavy aerial bombardment and ground operations that followed, according to hospital officials in the area.
Residents described it as the heaviest onslaught they had ever experienced during the eight-month-old war. One hospital official reported that Israel targeted a busy market, with video footage showing bloodied bodies on the ground in the aftermath of the attack.
Dr. Khalil Daqran, the spokesman for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and Marwan Abu Nasser, the acting administrative director of Al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat, stated that their hospitals received over 200 dead and many wounded from the devastating attack. The victims included women and children, according to the officials.
Israel’s military spokesman estimated the casualties to be under 100, but did not specify whether they were dead or wounded. The exact breakdown of civilians versus militants was also unclear.
The aftermath of the attack left many families grieving and struggling to identify their loved ones among the torn limbs of children, women, and elderly individuals. The situation was described as catastrophic, with hospitals overwhelmed by the influx of casualties.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horror of the Israeli operation, with one young man describing how Israeli forces arrived in helicopters and opened fire on civilians. Many displaced Palestinians had sought refuge in Nuseirat, only to face the deadly consequences of the military operation.
As the hospitals reached capacity, bodies had to be sent to nearby facilities for burial, highlighting the overwhelming toll of the attack on the local healthcare system. Calls for blood donations and international assistance were made as Gaza’s hospitals continued to struggle with limited resources.
The tragic events in Nuseirat serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with innocent civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The international community is urged to step in and provide support to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the devastating attack.
