Scores of people have been rushed to Deir el-Balah hospital to identify bodies after Israel stepped up its air strikes on Gaza.

Authorities said Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, has suffered most from one of the most intense nights of shelling since Israel started its bombardment on October 7.

More than 260 people died in 24 hours, according to the health ministry toll, which said 1,873 of those killed in the past fortnight were children.

At the hospital morgue in Deir el-Balah, bodies were everywhere. In the southern town of Khan Yunis, one strike on the Rio cafe killed 13 people.

Many people fled to southern Gaza seeking safety after Israel urged them to leave the north. — AFP
Many people fled to southern Gaza seeking safety after Israel urged them to leave the north. — AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Lull in fighting
Updated 28 Jul, 2026

Lull in fighting

AFTER two weeks of escalating violence, the US has halted its strikes on Iran, with Tehran also silencing it guns....
Water policy
28 Jul, 2026

Water policy

THE country is caught in a crisis where there too much water at the wrong time and too little when it is most ...
Ending hepatitis
28 Jul, 2026

Ending hepatitis

WORLD Hepatitis Day is being observed under the theme ‘Hepatitis: Let’s break it down’, a call to remove the...
Writing on the wall
27 Jul, 2026

Writing on the wall

EVERY few months, another set of figures reminds Pakistan of a painful reality. Sahil’s latest Six Months Cruel...
Still unprepared
27 Jul, 2026

Still unprepared

EVEN as Pakistan counts around 100 deaths since the onset of the monsoon season on June 26, it is bracing for ...
Delayed devolution
27 Jul, 2026

Delayed devolution

THE debate over Islamabad’s reluctance to fully let go of devolved subjects has been running since 2010. But it ...