Over 70 Palestinians Killed in Gaza City: Hamas Accuses Israel of Planned Massacre

On Friday, over 70 Palestinians were killed in Gaza City. Ismail al-Thawabta, Director-General of the Hamas Government Media Office, accused Israeli authorities of orchestrating a ‘planned massacre.’ He claimed the Israeli military directed thousands of Palestinians to move to specific areas and then opened fire on them.

Al-Thawabta reported that rescue crews recovered 70 bodies from the Tal al-Hawa area, with at least 50 people still missing. He stated that some displaced people were carrying white flags and declaring they were not fighters, but were still executed by the Israeli army.

United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric condemned the incident, calling it a tragic example of the toll on civilians in the ongoing conflict. The UN has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages taken during the conflict.

Since the conflict began in October, violence has also surged in the West Bank, where at least 553 Palestinians have been killed and 9,510 detained by Israeli forces and settlers. The West Bank is home to about 3 million Palestinians and over 500,000 Israelis living in more than 100 settlements.