A total of 87 individuals were reported killed or missing under the rubble following an Israeli airstrike on Saturday in Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza, with over 40 others injured, according to the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry.
The Israeli military stated that it is investigating the incident, which resulted in one of the highest casualty figures in recent months. Earlier, the military described the casualty count of 73 reported by Hamas media as exaggerated, asserting that the strike targeted a Hamas site.
Gaza’s health ministry noted that rescue efforts are being hampered by communication issues and ongoing military operations in the area near the Israeli border. “Victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance teams and civil emergency services cannot reach them,” the ministry stated.
The attack, which occurred late Saturday night, follows a two-week military operation around Jabalia, located just south of Beit Lahiya, where Israeli troops, supported by tanks, have been attempting to eliminate remaining Hamas fighters.
U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland condemned the ongoing attacks on civilians, stating, “Horrifying scenes unfolding in Gaza, amidst conflict, relentless Israeli strikes, and an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis. Hostages must be freed, the displacement of Palestinians must cease, and civilians must be protected.”
Evacuation orders directing people south have raised concerns among many Palestinians that the operation aims to displace them from northern Gaza to secure Israeli control of the area post-war. Israel has denied any such intentions, claiming its efforts are focused on protecting civilians and separating them from Hamas fighters.
The military asserts that it has killed numerous armed Palestinian fighters and dismantled various military infrastructures during the operation in Jabalia, which is home to one of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps. Residents in Jabalia reported that Israeli forces raided shelters housing displaced families and detained dozens of men.
The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week had sparked hopes for a potential path toward ending the fighting in Gaza, more than a year after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led gunmen, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the seizure of 251 hostages in southern Israel.
However, the recent violence highlights the ongoing intensity of the conflict, even as Israel’s main focus has shifted north to its operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
According to figures from the Palestinian health ministry, over 42,600 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s ground offensive, with thousands more believed to be trapped under the rubble. The destruction in the coastal enclave is extensive, and the majority of its 2.3 million residents have been displaced.
Amid the continued fighting, health officials have reported severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies for the three remaining hospitals still partially operational in the region.
Officials at Kamal Adwan, Indonesian, and Al-Awda hospitals have stated that their facilities are surrounded by Israeli forces. At Kamal Adwan Hospital, it was reported that the facility came under Israeli fire.
