Israeli airstrike kills at least 18 in Gaza city’s Shejaia neighborhood – Health officials

An Israeli airstrike struck a residential building in the Shejaia neighborhood of Gaza City on Wednesday, killing at least 18 Palestinians and wounding dozens more, according to local health authorities.

The attack targeted a multi-story home in the densely populated eastern suburb, medics said, adding that emergency crews were still searching for survivors beneath the rubble late into the evening. Several of the wounded were reported to be in critical condition.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as ambulances rushed to the site and neighbors attempted to assist in the rescue effort. The building housed multiple families, many of whom were believed to be inside at the time of the strike.

“We were sitting inside when we suddenly heard a massive explosion,” said one local resident who lives nearby.

“We ran outside and saw the building had collapsed. People were screaming and trying to pull out the injured with their bare hands.”

The Israeli military has not issued a statement regarding the strike, and it remains unclear whether the building was believed to be housing militants or command centers.

In past operations, Israel has accused Hamas and other militant groups of embedding military assets within civilian infrastructure — a charge the groups deny.

The incident comes amid renewed escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with airstrikes and rocket fire reported in multiple areas over recent days. Civilian casualties continue to mount as the fighting shows no sign of abating.

Local hospitals, already overwhelmed by months of conflict, are struggling to treat the influx of casualties. Health officials in Gaza have warned that shortages of medical supplies, fuel, and electricity are further complicating their response efforts.

The United Nations and international humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and for all parties to protect civilians, in accordance with international law.

Wednesday’s airstrike is one of the deadliest reported in Gaza in recent weeks and adds to the mounting toll of the war, which has displaced hundreds of thousands and left large swathes of the territory in ruins.

As rescue operations continue, families in Shejaia brace for the possibility that more bodies will be recovered in the coming hours.