GAZA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 71 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting residential areas across the Gaza Strip since dawn on Thursday, one official said.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, told Xinhua that the death toll has surpassed 71, including women and children, with dozens injured.

"The Gaza Strip is no longer safe amid ongoing violent airstrikes," he said, expecting the casualty to rise as search efforts continue under challenging conditions due to the lack of heavy recovery equipment.

The airstrikes targeted several areas, including Bani Suhaila, Abasan al-Kabira, and al-Fakhari east of Khan Younis, as well as Rafah in the south and Gaza City and Beit Lahia in the north.

Security sources and local eyewitnesses said that 19 homes were completely destroyed, along with tents sheltering displaced people, aid warehouses, and mosques.

Meanwhile, Hebrew public radio reported that the Israeli army struck approximately 20 targets in Gaza in recent hours, while artillery shelling continues east of Khan Younis, particularly in Abasan al-Kabira and central and eastern Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Security Agency continued extensive strikes throughout the Gaza Strip to "remove any threat to the citizens of the State of Israel," the IDF said in a statement. Enditem

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