Israeli air strike in Gaza leaves tragic death toll

An early morning Israeli airstrike in central Gaza on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people, according to Palestinian medical officials.

The attack targeted a mosque housing displaced people, located near the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Hospital reports confirmed that the fatalities were all men, and two other men were reported to have been critically injured.

The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident. Meanwhile, Palestinian health authorities report that the death toll in Gaza stands at 42,000, including a significant number of women and children.

(With contributions from agencies.)