Israeli airstrikes on a residential block in Beit Lahia, located in northern Gaza, resulted in numerous casualties on Saturday night, according to reports from the Palestinian civil defense, the emergency response service in the enclave.
Information regarding the attacks remains limited, with communication in northern Gaza reportedly “completely cut off,” as stated by Medhat Abbas, a spokesman for the health ministry in Gaza. The Israeli military has been conducting operations in the area for several weeks, targeting what it claims is a regrouped Hamas presence.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike in Beit Lahia in a statement released on Sunday, asserting that the air force executed a “precise strike” aimed at Hamas fighters while taking measures to “mitigate the risk of harming civilians.”
The Palestinian Authority’s news agency Wafa reported, citing medical sources, that the strikes resulted in 40 fatalities and 80 injuries, including women and children.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations secretary general, described the situation in northern Gaza as “unbearable,” noting that approximately 60,000 individuals have been displaced in recent weeks.
Mr. Dujarric further stated that Israel’s ongoing military operations have led to “widespread devastation and deprivation,” creating conditions of life that are untenable for the Palestinian population.
On Friday, Volker Türk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, expressed concern in a statement, indicating that the situation continues to deteriorate. He warned that the Israeli government’s actions in northern Gaza could lead to the area becoming devoid of Palestinians and may amount to atrocity crimes, potentially extending to crimes against humanity.