On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes in Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza, killed at least 88 people, including women and children, according to Gaza Health Ministry officials. The first strike, which targeted a five-story residential building, left 70 dead and 23 missing, many from the same families. A later strike in the same area killed at least 18 more, officials said.
Kamal Adwan Hospital, which took in many of the injured, reported critical shortages in medical staff and resources following an Israeli raid over the weekend that detained dozens of hospital medics. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, the hospital director, described the situation as “catastrophic” due to the lack of doctors to handle the emergency influx.
An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Beit Lahiya has left at least 93 Palestinians dead or missing, including 20 children
Medical services cannot reach many wounded due to severe damage and lack of access to healthcare facilities in the area— PLANET NEWS MONITOR (@planet_monitor1) October 29, 2024
#Israel – Middle East War: Day 389
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In Gaza’s Beit Lahiya an Israeli airstrike demolished a building that had been sheltering displaced families. At least 109 Palestinians, including children, were killed, with many others injured. The humanitarian toll mounts. #Gaza pic.twitter.com/NfSTmLuUXh— World Watch (@WorldWatch_in) October 29, 2024
⚡️#Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahiya yesterday morning resulted in a massacre, claiming the lives of at least 93 civilians, including 25 children. The strike targeted the five-floor building of the Abu Nassr family. pic.twitter.com/oZRjBOCkHV
— Shah Faisal AfRidi (@Sfaisalafridi) October 29, 2024
The U.S. State Department urged Israel to provide an explanation. It called the incident “horrifying” due to the number of civilian deaths. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the need for civilian protection in ongoing operations but clarified that the U.S. does not support Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, as it could risk creating a power vacuum.
Israel’s recent airstrikes are part of a larger campaign to eliminate Hamas presence in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces say militants have regrouped. The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged reports of high casualties in the Beit Lahiya strike and are reviewing the incident, cautioning that numbers from Gaza officials may not be accurate.
Meanwhile, aid access has become increasingly limited. On Monday, Israeli lawmakers moved to sever ties with the UN agency UNRWA, responsible for distributing essentials in Gaza. This, coupled with the strikes, has further strained Gaza’s humanitarian situation, which UN officials warn could escalate into a larger crisis.
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