Rescuers were searching for survivors in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, following an overnight Israeli airstrike that hit a residential building, resulting in significant casualties. Palestinian officials reported that dozens were killed or missing.
The Gazan Health Ministry stated that at least 87 individuals were either killed or unaccounted for, with over 40 others injured. They noted that “a number of victims are still under the rubble” and mentioned difficulties encountered by ambulances and rescue workers in reaching the site.
The Palestinian civil defense service reported “dozens” of fatalities and injuries due to the airstrike, which occurred just before midnight on Saturday. Israel’s military has not made an immediate comment regarding the incident but stated it is reviewing the circumstances. The Israeli military has disputed initial casualty figures provided by Hamas, claiming that they “do not align” with its assessments.
The renewed Israeli military offensive in northern Gaza began earlier this month, aimed at dismantling a regrouped Hamas presence. The United Nations estimates that approximately 400,000 people remain in northern Gaza, many of whom are trapped in devastated neighborhoods due to ongoing airstrikes.
U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, remarked that the strike in Beit Lahia followed “weeks of intensified operations that have resulted in scores of civilian fatalities.” He described the situation as a “nightmare” that is worsening amid intensified conflict and humanitarian crises.
Footage broadcast by Al Jazeera captured the immediate aftermath of the airstrike, displaying residents and rescue workers retrieving lifeless bodies, including those of children, from the debris of a completely flattened building.
Information regarding the strike remains limited, and communication in northern Gaza has been severely disrupted. Paltel, a primary Palestinian cellular provider, reported widespread blackouts affecting phone communications due to the escalation of hostilities.