Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill 153 in 24 Hours
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Israeli air and ground operations in the Gaza Strip killed at least 153 people in the past 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The Health Ministry in Gaza said on Saturday that 153 bodies arrived at hospitals across the enclave during the latest 24-hour reporting period.
This includes seven bodies recovered from beneath rubble left by earlier attacks, it said in a statement posted to Telegram.
An additional 459 people were injured, according to the ministry.
The ministry said the overall death toll in Gaza since the war began has risen to 53,272, with another 120,673 wounded.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the situation in Gaza is nearing a point of no return.
He described the ongoing Israeli military operations and the resulting displacement and destruction as amounting to “a form of ethnic cleansing.”
"The terrifying bombardments around the clock, the systematic destruction of neighborhoods, the deprivation of humanitarian aid, and threats of expanded operations appear aimed at altering the demographic composition of Gaza in violation of international law," Türk said.
He added that Israel "has deprived the people of Gaza of basic life necessities" and urged immediate international action to stop what he called "this madness."
"Medical services are collapsing, and displaced families have nowhere to go," Türk said.
"Many are forced to live in tents that fail to meet even the minimum standards of human dignity, while extreme hunger spreads under Israel’s ongoing blockade."
Türk noted that recent Israeli airstrikes specifically targeted two major hospitals in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis — Nasser Medical Complex and the European Hospital.
The European Hospital is now out of service, he said.
"Under international law, hospitals must be protected at all times, especially during armed conflict," he said.
"The killing of patients, caregivers, emergency personnel, and civilians seeking shelter is horrifying and must end."
He rejected Israel’s claim that its strikes aim solely at underground Hamas facilities, stating that such assertions do not absolve it of responsibility under international humanitarian law.
"Even if Israel claims to be targeting Hamas command centers, it is obligated to protect civilian lives — something it is not currently ensuring," Türk said.
Separately, the World Health Organization warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse and said time is running out to save lives in the besieged territory.
