AIRSTRIKES on the Gazan city of Rafah killed 18 children at the weekend, say health officials.
The deaths were reported as Israeli forces prepare to launch an assault on the Gaza Strip's southern enclave.
The Israeli missiles that hit Rafah on Saturday night killed 22 members of two families, 18 of them children.
Among the dead was a father along with his three-year-old child and wife, who was pregnant.
The baby was saved, said the Kuwait Hospital.
The strikes followed one on the city the previous night that killed nine people, including six children.
Rafah has suffered near-daily raids and Israel plans to defy Western warnings and launch a ground invasion too.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "In the coming days, we will increase the political and military pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to bring back our hostages."
Pressures on Netanyahu include protests by Israelis blaming his government for failing to save hostages taken by Gaza's Hamas in its October 7 raid. But the US has led calls for Israel not to attack Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3million people are living.
We saw protests mobbing a road junction on the way back from northern Israel, locals appealing for elections and highlighting government failures to secure hostage releases.
Yalon Pikman, 58, who attended a march of hundreds of thousands in Tel Aviv, said: "We're here to protest against this government that keeps dragging us down, month after month.
"We keep going down in a spiral." Most Israelis we spoke to objected to the use of Gazan health officials' figures for Palestinian death tolls.
One said to me: "They may be exaggerated why do you believe them? Anyway, most people in Gaza supported the Hamas attacks.
Esta historia es de la edición April 22, 2024 de Daily Record.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición April 22, 2024 de Daily Record.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
KEEP CALM & VALAKARI ON
New boss still watching from stand but Kirk says it Saint an obstacle
NO MAD THING
Slot says he's not worried about TAA to Real talk
Kids need a healthy diet to concentrate
Five-a-day fruit and veg scheme a major boost
NEIGH LUCK
Kelpies creator Andy tells how work dried up after he finished landmark.
Sails force greets the royals on Aussie trip
THE famous sails of Sydney Opera House give the King and Queen a special welcome as they touch down on their tour of Australia.
CHIP SHOP ASSAULTS RAP STAR QUITS CLUB
A SCOTTISH Premiership club has announced the departure of a player after he was charged with assault.
NOW END THE WAR
Peace plea after death of Hamas Oct 7 chief
Tributes to 'angel' Alana killed in A71 horror smash
A WOMAN who was killed in a horror crash in Ayrshire has been named locally as barmaid Alana Muir.
Bus driver death: Teen pleads guilty
Drunk yob headbutted and rained punches on Keith
REEVES EYES INHERITANCE IN TAX RAIDS
Chancellor also mulls welfare cuts to find £40bn