Muslim holiday turned to mourning in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill 10

Israeli strikes in Gaza City killed 10 people overnight into May 28th, including five children, an elderly person and a Hamas militant, as Palestinians gathered for funeral prayers on the first day of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat via AP on May 29th.

More than 20 others were injured in the attacks, according to officials at Shifa Hospital. Footage from the scene showed flames engulfing the upper floors of a residential building while residents rushed wounded civilians, including children, into ambulances amid the chaos.

The strikes drew emotional scenes at local hospitals and morgues. Mohammed Shawish, who was wounded in the attack and lost his wife, broke down in tears while holding her body.

“I married my wife for love. For God’s sake, I chose her because of love,” he said.

The Israeli military said the operation targeted two Hamas militants in northern Gaza. Among those killed was Hamas fighter Imad Isleim, whose body was carried through funeral processions wrapped in a white shroud and draped with a Hamas flag.

His cousin, Nidal Isleim, said the family was shocked by the death despite understanding the risks associated with the conflict.

The latest strikes came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was expanding its military control across Gaza as part of its campaign against Hamas.

“Right now we are tightening the grip on Hamas,” Netanyahu said during remarks at the Jordan Valley Conference in the occupied West Bank. He claimed Israeli forces now controlled around 60% of Gaza territory and planned to extend that further.

“We will deal with the remnants,” Netanyahu added, describing the ongoing offensive as part of a broader regional strategy involving Iran, Hezbollah and Gaza.

The escalation follows the killing earlier this week of Mohammed Odeh, the recently appointed head of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, less than two weeks after his predecessor was also killed.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, 16 people have been killed and 39 wounded across the territory in the past 48 hours. Since a ceasefire began last October, the ministry says 922 people have been killed and 2,786 injured in Gaza.

Asharq Al-Awsat via AP, Maghrebi.org