An Israeli air strike on a five-storey residential building in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, killed at least 34 people, including women and children, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported on Sunday. Dozens more are feared to be trapped under the rubble.
Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 34 bodies had been recovered, revising an earlier toll of 30. “The chances of rescuing more wounded are decreasing because of the continuous shooting and artillery shelling,” he said.
Images from the scene showed rescuers digging through rubble, bodies being carried on carts, and survivors fleeing with their belongings. Seven people were reported injured.
Ongoing Conflict and Displacement
The airstrike is part of a broader Israeli offensive that began in October 2024, aimed at preventing Hamas militants from regrouping in northern Gaza. Israel’s military said the operation targets “terrorist activities” and claimed efforts are ongoing to evacuate civilians from war zones.
The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, has displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, with no area in the besieged territory deemed safe.
Warnings and Reactions
Hamas called the airstrike a “massacre,” accusing Israel of committing acts of “genocidal war.” Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned the violence, attributing it to U.S. support for Israel and calling for international intervention to halt the “bloodshed.”
The Palestinian health ministry reported a total death toll of 43,846 since the conflict began over a year ago, with the majority being civilians.
The war continues to fuel widespread displacement and calls for urgent global action to protect Gaza’s population.