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.
They came after the US Congress voted in favour of a foreign aid package on Saturday night that will include £3.2bn for replenishing Israeli missile stocks and £7billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza.
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 2.3 million 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.
Denne historien er fra April 22, 2024-utgaven av Daily Mirror UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 22, 2024-utgaven av Daily Mirror UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To friends...
Battle of Arnhem hero, 99, returns to salute the fallen
£5.5M AFTER BEING STABBED IN PRISON
Burglar left with fear of kitchens after killer's attack
I won't fall prey to the Strictly curse Michelle is just like a Sister to me
Dispelling any rumours of romance and the dreaded Strictly curse, actor Jamie Borthwick says his partner Michelle Tsiakkas mothers him and he secretly idolises her boyfriend.
Top Hezbollah chief 'killed in Israel blitz'
Commander was wanted over bombing | Strike targets busy city area in rush hour
LABOUR NONATIONS
PM rules out more clothing gifts
FRIGHTENED? YES... 100%
Fergie, 82: I fear dementia
They'd do anything for Britain... except pay fair share of tax
Three-quarters of donations to patriotic' Reform come from tax havens
Laila breaks cover
Actress beams after shock split from snooker star Ronnie (seen looking less than happy)
COVID FRAUDSTER'S HIGH LIFE OF LUXURY
Crook took 105 private jet flights in one year despite owing taxpayers £72million
SAVILE..EPSTEIN..WEINSTEIN ...AL FAYED
'Monster just like worst celeb perverts | Probe widens into Fulham and Paris Ritz