An Israeli airstrike on a five-story residential building in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, has killed at least 34 people, including women and children, according to local civil defense officials.
The attack flattened the building, leaving a pile of rubble as rescuers scramble to locate survivors. Dozens are feared trapped beneath the debris, while seven others sustained injuries.
Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal warned that ongoing Israeli shelling and airstrikes were hindering rescue operations. “The whole area was shaking,” a resident said, describing the panic following the attack.
The Israeli military confirmed strikes in Beit Lahia, claiming to target militant sites to disrupt Hamas activities. Israel asserts its offensive is focused on neutralizing “terrorist targets.”
Simultaneously, airstrikes on refugee camps in central Gaza killed 15 people, and a drone attack in Rafah claimed five more lives.
The humanitarian crisis worsens, with 130,000 people displaced during Israel’s five-week ground offensive. The UN estimates 75,000 remain trapped in northern Gaza amidst severe shortages of essential supplies.
Residents voice frustration over the relentless destruction. A woman from Beit Lahia questioned, “What have we done to you? Why are you driving us out?”
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have accused Israel of war crimes and criticized the scale of displacement.
Since the conflict escalated after the October 7 Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis, Gaza’s death toll has surpassed 43,700, according to Hamas health authorities. Nearly 90% of Gaza’s population faces displacement, with large areas under evacuation orders.
