Israeli Airstrike Kills at Least 34 in Gaza, Including Women, Children

An Israeli airstrike on a five-story building in the northern Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning killed at least 34 people, including more than half women and children, The Associated Press reports, citing the Gaza Health Ministry.

The ministry’s emergency service reported another 20 people were wounded in the strike, which took place in the town of Beit Lahiya, near the Israeli border.

The devastating attack targeted a building housing displaced Palestinians, many of whom were fleeing the ongoing Israeli offensive in the area. Among the victims were a mother and her five children, some of whom were adults, and a second mother with her six children.

Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, director of the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital, described the scene as overwhelming, with the facility struggling to cope with the influx of wounded. The hospital itself was raided by Israeli forces over the weekend, resulting in the detention of dozens of medics.

This incident marks the latest in a series of Israeli strikes targeting shelters for displaced people in recent months. While the Israeli military claims to conduct precise strikes targeting militants and avoid civilian casualties, the strikes have repeatedly resulted in the deaths of women and children.

The Israeli military, which has been carrying out a large-scale operation in northern Gaza for over three weeks, claims to be targeting Hamas militants who have regrouped in the region. However, the operation has displaced tens of thousands from their homes and killed hundreds, adding to the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The attack comes as Israel has further tightened restrictions on aid to the northern Gaza Strip, prompting concerns from the United States. The US has warned Israel that failure to facilitate greater aid efforts could lead to a reduction in military aid.

Palestinians believe Israel is enacting a plan proposed by a group of former generals, suggesting the civilian population in the north should be evacuated, aid supplies cut off, and those remaining considered militants. While the military has denied carrying out such a plan, the government has not explicitly confirmed or denied its implementation.

Meanwhile, Israel’s parliament passed two laws on Monday that could impede the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the Palestinian territories. The move culminates a campaign against UNRWA, which Israel accuses of Hamas infiltration, allegations denied by the agency.

The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. While some hostages have been released, approximately 100 remain in Gaza, with a third believed to be dead.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. The conflict has also caused the displacement of around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population.