90 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza’s humanitarian zones
Deir Al-Balah: Over 90 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in the past 48 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, as Israel continues its military campaign on the besieged territory.
Hospital sources reported that at least 15 people, including women and children, were killed overnight in a designated humanitarian zone. In Khan Younis, 11 people, including some sheltering in tents in the overcrowded Mwasi area, lost their lives. Israel has officially recognised Mwasi as a humanitarian zone.
Four others, including a mother and her daughter, were killed in separate attacks in Rafah. Their bodies were taken to the European Hospital, according to medical staff.
Humanitarian organisations have raised alarm over worsening conditions in Gaza, with thousands of children suffering from malnutrition and many residents surviving on just one meal a day, according to the United Nations.
On Friday, Dr Hanan Balkhy, head of the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean office, urged newly appointed U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to push Israeli authorities to ease the blockade and allow the entry of essential supplies. She expressed hope that visiting Gaza might change his stance.
Meanwhile, during his first public appearance, Huckabee visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem and placed a note said to contain a prayer written by U.S. President Donald Trump. He also said efforts were underway to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The latest escalation comes as the Israeli military resumed operations after breaking a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The ongoing war has killed nearly 51,000 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, including at least 876 infants under the age of one. Health workers, aid personnel, and journalists are also among the dead.
Massive destruction across Gaza has wiped out critical infrastructure, including food production units, while around 90% of the population has been displaced, many forced to live in tents or damaged buildings.
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Informing Pakistan ahead of Operation Sindoor was a crime: Rahul Gandhi on Jaishankar's 'admission'
New Delhi, May 17 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at the government for "informing" Pakistan about targeting terror infrastructure as part of Operation Sindoor, saying it was a crime and asking who had authorised it.
In a post on X, Gandhi questioned External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for publicly admitting that the government of India (GOI) had informed Pakistan of the action and asked how many aircraft the Indian Air Force lost as a result.
"Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?" said Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.
He also shared an undated video of Jaishankar saying India had informed Pakistan of the action against terror infrastructure on its soil.
Jaishankar can be heard saying in the video, "At the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan, saying, 'We are striking at terrorist infrastructure and we are not striking at the military.'"
"So the military has the option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take that good advice," the minister can be heard saying in the clip.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB), however, has debunked claims that Jaishankar had said India informed Pakistan ahead of Operation Sindoor. In a post on X, the PIB's Fact Check Unit said the minister had not made any such statement and that he was being misquoted.
Operation Sindoor was the Indian offensive against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 17, 2025
EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it.
1. Who authorised it?
2. How many aircraft did our airforce lose as a result? pic.twitter.com/KmawLLf4yW
