In pictures: Death and misery for Palestinians as Israel pounds Gaza with air strikes

Death toll from Israeli air strikes has risen to 119 killed, including 31 children and 19 women, with 830 wounded.
Published May 14, 2021

Palestinians grabbed their children and belongings and fled neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Gaza City on Friday as Israel unleashed a heavy barrage of artillery fire and airstrikes, killing a family of six in their home. Israel said it was clearing a network of militant tunnels ahead of a possible ground invasion.

Israel has massed troops along the border and called up 9,000 reservists as fighting intensifies with Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has launched more than 600 airstrikes, toppling at least three high-rise apartment buildings, and has shelled some areas with tanks stationed near the frontier.

The Gaza Health Ministry said the toll from the fighting has risen to 119 killed, including 31 children and 19 women, with 830 wounded. Palestinians living outside Gaza City, near the northern and eastern frontiers with Israel, fled the intense artillery bombardment on Friday. Families arrived at the UN-run schools in the city in pick-up trucks, on donkeys and by foot, hauling pillows and pans, blankets and bread.

Palestinians gather at the site of destroyed houses in the aftermath of Israeli air and artillery strikes as cross-border attacks by the Israeli military continue, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — Reuters
Palestinians gather at the site of destroyed houses in the aftermath of Israeli air and artillery strikes as cross-border attacks by the Israeli military continue, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — Reuters

Palestinian relatives mourn over the bodies of four brothers from the Al-tanani family that were found under the rubble of a destroyed house following Israeli airstrikes in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AP
Palestinian relatives mourn over the bodies of four brothers from the Al-tanani family that were found under the rubble of a destroyed house following Israeli airstrikes in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AP

A Palestinian woman reacts as she collects her belongings inside her heavily damaged house in the aftermath of Israeli air and artillery strikes as cross-border attacks by the Israeli military continue, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — Reuters
A Palestinian woman reacts as she collects her belongings inside her heavily damaged house in the aftermath of Israeli air and artillery strikes as cross-border attacks by the Israeli military continue, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — Reuters

A Palestinian woman reacts as people assess the damage caused by Israeli air strikes, in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AFP
A Palestinian woman reacts as people assess the damage caused by Israeli air strikes, in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AFP

Members of a Palestinian family atop a carriage pulled by a donkey in Beit Lahya in the northern Gaza Strip, flee Israeli air and artillery strikes, to a safer location, May 14, 2021. — AFP
Members of a Palestinian family atop a carriage pulled by a donkey in Beit Lahya in the northern Gaza Strip, flee Israeli air and artillery strikes, to a safer location, May 14, 2021. — AFP

Israeli soldiers fire artillery shells towards the Gaza Strip from their position near the southern Israeli city of Sderot, May 14, 2021. — AFP
Israeli soldiers fire artillery shells towards the Gaza Strip from their position near the southern Israeli city of Sderot, May 14, 2021. — AFP

Palestinians assess the damage in a building caused by Israeli air strikes, in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AFP
Palestinians assess the damage in a building caused by Israeli air strikes, in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AFP

This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a fire at an oil tank farm in Ashkelon, Israel, May 12, 2021. — AP
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows a fire at an oil tank farm in Ashkelon, Israel, May 12, 2021. — AP

Rockets light up the night sky as they are fired towards Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AFP
Rockets light up the night sky as they are fired towards Israel from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AFP

A donkey runs as Palestinians flee their homes during Israeli air and artillery strikes while cross-border attacks by the Israeli military continue, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — Reuters
A donkey runs as Palestinians flee their homes during Israeli air and artillery strikes while cross-border attacks by the Israeli military continue, in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — Reuters

Palestinians carry some of their belongings in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, as they flee Israeli air and artillery strikes, to a safer location, May 14, 2021. — AFP
Palestinians carry some of their belongings in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, as they flee Israeli air and artillery strikes, to a safer location, May 14, 2021. — AFP


Header image: Palestinians assess the damage caused by Israeli air strikes, in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip, May 14, 2021. — AFP