Israeli airstrikes kill over 70 in Gaza on second day of Eid, including 16 in one family home

More than 70 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza on the second day of Eid al-Adha, with 16 people from a single family reportedly killed in a strike on a residential building in Gaza City. 

The Palestinian Civil Defence described the attack as a "full-fledged massacre" as rescue workers searched through rubble for dozens more believed to be trapped.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, the bombing occurred without warning on Saturday in the Sabra neighbourhood of Gaza City. 

"This is truly a full-fledged massacre … a building full of civilians," said Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basel, adding that around 85 people were believed to be under the debris.

"We woke up to the strikes, destruction, yelling, rocks hitting us," said Hamed Keheel, a displaced Palestinian at the site. 

"Instead of waking up to cheer our children and dress them up to enjoy Eid, we wake up to carry women and children's bodies from under rubble."

Local resident Hassan Alkhor told Al Jazeera that the targeted building belonged to the Abu Sharia family. "May God hold the Israeli forces and [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu accountable," he said.

The Israeli military later stated it had killed Asaad Abu Sharia, the alleged leader of the Mujahideen Brigades and a participant in the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led assault on Israel. Hamas confirmed the killing, noting in a Telegram statement that Abu Sharia's brother, Ahmed, was also assassinated in the strike, calling it "part of a series of brutal massacres against civilians."

Eight killed while queuing for food

In a separate incident on Saturday, at least eight Palestinians were shot and killed near an aid distribution site run by the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Rafah, southern Gaza. The group has been criticised for replacing longstanding UN and humanitarian aid networks and operating under Israeli military protection.

Gaza resident Samir Abu Hadid told AFP that thousands had gathered at the al-Alam roundabout near the aid site. 

"As soon as some people tried to advance towards the aid centre, the Israeli [forces] opened fire from armoured vehicles stationed near the centre, firing into the air and then at civilians," he said.

One woman told Al Jazeera her husband had been killed trying to bring home "a handful of rice for our starving children."

"He said he felt he was walking towards death. I begged him not to leave. He insisted to find anything to feed our children," she said.

GHF stated on Saturday that it had to suspend operations that day due to "direct threats" from Hamas, although Hamas denied knowledge of any such threats in comments to Reuters.

Famine and reproductive crisis

Amid the escalating violence and worsening humanitarian situation, the UN has warned that Gaza's population of 2.3 million remains at severe risk of famine following Israel's ongoing blockade. Medical officials have reported over 300 miscarriages in the last 80 days alone, highlighting the catastrophic toll on pregnant women and newborns.

Dr Brenda Kelly, a consultant obstetrician at Oxford University Hospital, told Al Jazeera that Gaza was "losing a future generation of children" due to a surge in stillbirths, miscarriages, and pre-term births.

"What we're seeing now is the direct fallout of Israel's weaponising of hunger in Gaza – impacting babies' growth and growth restriction is one of the leading causes of miscarriages and stillbirth," she said.

Dr Kelly added that the combination of severe maternal malnutrition, stress, repeated displacement, and inadequate shelter had further worsened the situation. 

"We know that famine experienced in-utero has lifelong consequences for children who then go into adulthood with much higher risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as mental health disorders," she said.

As Israeli operations continue and humanitarian access remains constrained, health experts and aid workers are warning of long-term generational damage in the besieged enclave.a