What should have been a night of Eid festivities became a scene of grief in Gaza City on Thursday, as dozens of Palestinians gathered to pray over the bodies of 10 people killed in Israeli strikes the night before - including five children and an elderly person, according to reporting by France 24.
Shifa Hospital reported more than 20 additional injuries from the strikes. Video footage from the scene showed flames erupting from an upper-floor window of a residential building, with bystanders scrambling to carry wounded people, including children, to waiting ambulances.
Who was killed?
Among the 10 confirmed dead, Israel's military strikes claimed the lives of five children, one elderly individual, and at least one Hamas militant, per France 24's report. The presence of civilian casualties - particularly children - during one of the Muslim world's most important religious holidays has drawn renewed attention to the ongoing toll of the conflict on Gaza's civilian population.
Netanyahu doubles down
Rather than signaling any de-escalation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the moment to announce plans for Israel to expand its control over Gaza. The declaration comes as international pressure continues to mount over the humanitarian situation in the territory, though Netanyahu's government has shown little sign of changing course.
Why this matters
Strikes during Eid al-Adha carry a particular symbolic weight - the holiday is traditionally a time for family gatherings, prayers, and celebration across the Muslim world. For families in Gaza, the night instead brought fire, ambulances, and funeral preparations.
The pattern is grimly familiar: hospitals reporting mass casualties, video footage of burning buildings, and political statements from Israeli leadership pointing toward escalation rather than pause.
As of this reporting, the conflict shows no sign of moving toward a ceasefire, and Netanyahu's stated intention to assert broader territorial control over Gaza suggests the military campaign is entering a new phase - one that aid organizations and international observers warn could deepen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Source: France 24. Details on casualty figures are attributed to Shifa Hospital as reported by France 24. The situation remains ongoing and figures may change.
