Gaza Devastation: Israeli Airstrike Kills Dozens in Shejaiya, Sparking International Condemnation
an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood has reportedly killed at least 29 Palestinians, including children, triggering a wave of condemnation and raising concerns about the escalating conflict. The Israeli military claims the strike targeted a Hamas operative,while Palestinian witnesses describe a “horrific massacre” in an area sheltering displaced families.
The Shejaiya Airstrike: A Scene of Chaos and loss
On Tuesday morning, April 9, 2025, the Shejaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City became the epicenter of renewed violence. According to local hospital officials, an Israeli airstrike struck a multi-story residential building near the al-Hawashi mosque, resulting in the deaths of at least 29 Palestinians, including children. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency initially reported 23 fatalities, but warned that many more were feared trapped under the rubble. Later that evening, they announced the recovery of 15 additional bodies, leaving the final toll uncertain amidst ongoing rescue efforts.
Reuters
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the aftermath. Ayub Salim, 26, described the targeted area as “overcrowded with tents, displaced people and homes,” adding that it was struck by “multiple missiles.”
Dust and massive destruction filled the entire place, we couldn’t see anything, just the screams and panic of the people. It is truly a horrific massacre.Ayub Salim, Gaza Resident
The scenes of dust-covered bodies of children being carried away from the rubble have sparked outrage and renewed calls for a ceasefire. Hamas has condemned the strike as a “bloody massacre.”
Israel’s Viewpoint: Targeting Hamas Operatives
The Israeli military maintains that the airstrike was aimed at a “senior Hamas terrorist” responsible for planning and executing attacks in the area. they stated that “numerous steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of ‘precision weapons.'” The military also accused Hamas of violating international law by using civilians as human shields, a claim frequently made in this and similar conflicts.
This justification echoes statements made by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz during a visit to the region on Wednesday.
We are now slicing through the strip, and we are increasing the pressure step by step, so that they [Hamas] will give us our hostages. All of Rafah will be evacuated and turned into a security area. This is what we are doing now.Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz
However, these claims are sharply contested by residents who say the targeted area was not covered by the evacuation order issued by the Israeli military last week, leading many families to believe it was a safe zone.
We were told this was a safe area for the displaced, yet they are targeting residential blocks with lethal missiles. What have the children done? Do they fire rockets at the Israeli army?Elderly Man in Shejaiya, BBC Arabic’s Gaza Lifeline Program
A Looming Humanitarian catastrophe
The recent airstrike exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The UN reports that another 390,000 people have been displaced in the last three weeks, with two-thirds of the territory now designated as “no-go” zones or under evacuation orders by the Israeli military. Critical supplies like food, medicine, and fuel are dwindling due to what the UN describes as a month-long blockade imposed by Israel.
UN Secretary General António guterres has strongly condemned the Israeli blockade,arguing that it violates international law and has unleashed a wave of unimaginable suffering.
Gaza is a killing field and civilians are in an endless death loop.UN Secretary General António Guterres
The Israeli foreign ministry has refuted Guterres’ criticism, asserting that there is no shortage of humanitarian aid in Gaza. spokesman Oren Marmonstein stated,
There is no shortage of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip – over 25,000 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip in the 42 days of the ceasefire. Hamas used this aid to rebuild its war machine.Oren Marmonstein, Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman
However, this assertion is contradicted by the heads of six UN humanitarian agencies, who described Israel’s claim that there is sufficient food for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents as “far from reality on the ground.”
The stark contrast between these narratives highlights the complexity and deeply contested nature of the conflict, raising serious questions about the accuracy and impartiality of data available to the international community.
| Key Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Palestinians Killed Since March 18 | 1,482 | Local Hospital Officials |
| New Displacements (Last 3 Weeks) | 390,000 | UN |
| Territory Under “No-Go” or Evacuation Orders | 66% | Israeli Military |
Ceasefire negotiations Remain Stalled
Mediators are continuing their efforts to revive the ceasefire that began on January 19,which saw Hamas release 33 Israeli hostages (eight deceased) and five Thai hostages in exchange for the release of approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. Though, the truce collapsed after Hamas allegedly refused to except an extension of the initial phase of the deal and release more of the remaining 59 hostages. Israel claims that up to 24 of these hostages are still alive.
Hamas, in turn, has accused Israel of violating the original agreement, which included a second phase involving the release of all remaining living hostages and a permanent end to the war. The prospects for a renewed ceasefire remain uncertain as both sides trade accusations and continue to engage in military operations.
Background: The October 7th Attack and Its Aftermath
The current conflict is rooted in the unprecedented cross-border attack launched by Hamas on october 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. In response, the Israeli military initiated a campaign to dismantle hamas.
According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 50,840 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict, highlighting the devastating human cost of the ongoing hostilities.
