Over 600 Palestinians have been killed since the renewed Israeli bombardment [Getty]
Continued Israeli bombing killed at least 23 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, from Saturday evening into Sunday, with the toll including at least five children and a senior Hamas official.
The official, identified as Salah al-Bardawil, was killed along with his wife after the tent they were sleeping in was targeted.
The killing of the official, who was involved in the political bureau of Hamas and its legislative council, has raised alarm over the future of any potential negotiations.
According to various reports, he was responsible for many charitable projects across the Strip and was well-known in Khan Younis. He also had a PhD in Palestinian literature, and worked as a teacher and editor, before joining Hamas in late 1987.
Hamas responded to the killing of al-Bardawil, condemning it and saying it was a “treacherous Zionist assassination operation”.
The group also said he was a “symbol of honesty, steadfastness and sacrifice” and that he “never failed to perform a duty, take a stand or serve the cause”.
The fierce bombing campaign levelled buildings and struck makeshift camps in north Gaza’s Jabalia camp, Beit Hanoon and Rafah city.
Palestinians scrambled to find and bury their dead in the morning, waking up to large-scale devastation.
At least 600 killed
The latest airstrikes have taken the toll of Palestinians killed by Israel to at least 600 since Israel violated the ceasefire agreement and restarted the war.
The strikes also came with further Israeli army evacuation orders, with the military’s Arabic language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stating residents in the Tal al-Sultan area in Rafah must move on foot to the al-Mawasi area in south Gaza.
Early on Sunday, the Palestinian Red Crescent also announced they had lost contact with several paramedics amid the Israeli bombardment and siege in certain areas.
“Occupation forces are besieging several Palestine Red Crescent ambulances while they were responding to an attack on al-Hashashin area in Rafah…several PRCS EMTs have been injured, and contact has been lost with the team…” a post from them read.
The Israeli army announced on Saturday that they are preparing to send additional troops into Gaza within the next 48 hours, according to reports in the Hebrew Channel 12. Â
This comes as the Israeli military said it intercepted a projectile launched from Yemen.
A statement from the army said they were intercepted before “crossing into Israeli territory”. However, the attack sparked air raid alerts to go off in several areas and caused widespread panic.
The alerts have caused some disruption to Israel’s main airport and the economy, and mark the return to the stage of war prior to the ceasefire.
In Israel, tens of thousands of people have been protesting across cities in demonstrations organised by families of captives held in Gaza.
Many of those at the protest expressed anger at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of continuing the war on Gaza for his personal agenda rather than saving the captives.
Israel’s attacks on Gaza have coincided with a renewed offensive in south Lebanon.
At least seven people were killed by the Israeli assault today, the Lebanese health ministry said.
The attacks on Lebanon have sparked a number of world leaders to issue statements condemning the escalation, including the UK’s foreign minister, David Lammy. Â
