At least 60 people were killed in a recent airstrike by Israel on Beit Lahia, a town in northern Gaza, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry. The attack targeted a five-story residential building, and rescue workers are still trying to find about 17 individuals believed to be trapped under the rubble. Videos on social media captured bodies covered with blankets lying on the ground. Israel’s military has not yet commented on this specific strike.
For two weeks, Israel’s forces have been active in northern Gaza, particularly around Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun. They state these operations aim to prevent Hamas fighters from reorganizing, accusing them of hiding within civilian areas—an allegation Hamas denies. In a recent statement, the Israeli military claimed it had killed 40 “terrorists” in Jabalia and eliminated more in central Gaza, mentioning that some had attempted to plant explosives near Israeli troops.
Hospitals in Gaza, such as Kamal Adwan hospital in Jabalia, are struggling to cope with the influx of patients, especially children. The hospital director, Hussam Abu Safia, shared that the facility is facing a severe shortage of medical staff and essential medicines.
The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza continues to worsen, with hundreds of thousands of people living in difficult conditions. Volker Türk, the UN’s human rights chief, stated that Israel’s military action has put the entire local population at risk, with bombings, a siege, and potential starvation. He also condemned Palestinian armed groups allegedly operating near civilians, including within shelters for displaced people.
On Monday, Israel’s parliament passed a law banning the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, from operating in the country. This move has raised concerns that it could disrupt the delivery of aid to Gaza, which relies heavily on UNRWA’s support.
Israel’s current offensive began after a significant Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, where approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 251 were taken hostage. Since then, the health ministry in Gaza reports that over 42,924 people have died, though it does not specify whether they were civilians or fighters.
Due to restricted access to Gaza, international journalists, including those from large media outlets, are currently unable to enter the area, making independent verification of on-ground events difficult.
