Gaza City, August 17— In a devastating surprise airstrike early Saturday morning, Israeli forces targeted a residential area in the central Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of 15 members of the same family. According to a live report by The Guardian, the attack killed nine children and three women among the dead.

The strike hit the home of the Azlah family in the al-Zawaida area, as confirmed by Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal in a statement to AFP news agency. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the airstrike.

This incident is part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas that has been raging since October last year. The health ministry in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, reported that the death toll from the conflict has now exceeded 40,000, with over 90,000 people injured. 

The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as both sides engage in escalating violence, leading to increasing civilian casualties and widespread destruction.