An Israeli air strike on a residential block in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, resulted in nearly 100 fatalities on Tuesday, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. The attack has prompted a desperate rescue effort as rescuers search for survivors amid the rubble. The bombing reportedly claimed a large number of children’s lives, drawing condemnation from the United States, which described the incident as “horrifying.”
The strike coincided with mounting international criticism against Israel following its parliament’s decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary UN agency aiding Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Witnesses described chaotic scenes around the five-story building, where charred bodies were visible, and family members gathered to identify their loved ones.
Also Read: At Least 93 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Beit Lahiya
Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the Gaza civil defense agency, reported, “The number of martyrs in the massacre of the Abu Nasr family home has risen to 93, with about 40 still missing under the rubble.” One survivor, Rabie al-Shandagly, recounted the devastation, stating, “Most of the victims are women and children, and there are no hospitals or proper medical care.”
In response to the strike, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller expressed deep concern, stating, “This was a horrifying incident with a horrifying result,” and indicated that the U.S. government had reached out to Israel for an explanation.
Meanwhile, the conflict extended beyond Gaza, as Israeli tanks advanced into the outskirts of the Lebanese village of Khiam, marking their deepest incursion in the ongoing ground operation against Hezbollah. Reports also indicated an Israeli strike near the southern city of Sidon in Lebanon, resulting in at least five additional deaths.
Since the escalation of hostilities, at least 1,700 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry reported a significant toll from recent Israeli raids in the Bekaa Valley, particularly in the Baalbek region, where at least 60 people were killed on Monday, including two children.
As the violence continues, the humanitarian crisis in both Gaza and Lebanon worsens, with urgent calls for international intervention and aid.
