Gaza Mourns 10 Killed in Eid Strikes as Netanyahu Vows Wider Control of Strip

What should have been a day of prayer, sacrifice and celebration turned into another chapter of grief in war torn Gaza , where Israeli airstrikes killed 10 people , including five children and an elderly civilian. The strikes, carried out overnight in Gaza City , left more than 20 others injured and deepened the anguish of families already exhausted by months of conflict.

Scenes emerging from the shattered neighbourhood reflected the horror of the attack. Flames were seen pouring from the upper floors of a damaged building as rescuers and residents rushed through smoke and debris carrying wounded children to ambulances. At the Shifa Hospital morgue, grief overwhelmed Mohammed Shawish, who lost his wife in the bombardment. Holding back tears beside her body, he recalled marrying her for love, his words capturing the heartbreak now haunting countless families across Gaza.

The strikes coincided with Eid al Adha , one of the holiest festivals observed by Muslims worldwide, turning what is traditionally a moment of togetherness into a day marked by funerals and mourning. Among those killed was Hamas militant Imad Isleim , whose body was later carried through crowds wrapped in a white shroud and draped with a Hamas flag. Relatives said his death, while feared, still came as a devastating shock.

The latest escalation unfolded as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was expanding its control over the Gaza Strip . Speaking at a regional conference in Jordan, Netanyahu said Israeli forces now controlled around 60 percent of Gaza and intended to extend that grip further. He described the operation as part of a broader strategy to tighten pressure on Hamas from all directions.

The conflict has intensified further following the killing earlier this week of Mohammed Odeh , the newly appointed commander of Hamas’ military wing, less than two weeks after his predecessor was also killed in an Israeli strike.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry , at least 16 people have been killed and dozens injured across the territory in the past 48 hours alone. Since the ceasefire collapsed last October, hundreds have reportedly died, underscoring the continuing humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza as civilians remain trapped between relentless violence and growing uncertainty.