Situation Overview
On 23 August, the Israeli air force levelled the 13-storey building (Al-Zafer Tower 4), southwest of Gaza city, alleging that Hamas was running an operations centre from one of the floors. The 49-apartment tower had housed at least 40 families, all of whom are now displaced.
Of continuing concern is the number of incidents since the onset of the emergency in which multiple members of the same family have been killed. As of 20 August, at least 140 families have lost three or more family members in the same incident, for a total of 735 civilian fatalities. Two additional incidents occurred in the reporting period.
On 23 August, An Israeli plane launched two missiles at a four-storey house belonging to the Abu Dahrouj family in al-Zawaida village. The second one destroyed the house and killed five members of the family, including Hayel Shihda Abu Dahrouj, his wife, two children, and his aunt.
On 24 August, an Israeli strike hit a house belonging to the Joudah family in Tal El Za’atar neighborhood in Jabalia, reportedly killing five people, including a mother and her four children.