An Israeli airstrike on a five-story building housing displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza left a devastating toll, with at least 60 people killed, including more than half who were women and children. The Gaza Health Ministry reported the high death count following the strike in the town of Beit Lahiya, near the Israeli border, where 20 others were injured. The majority of the dead included a mother and her five children, as well as a second mother with her six children, according to an initial casualty list provided by the emergency service.
The impact of the strike sent shockwaves through the war-torn region, where the Israeli military has repeatedly targeted shelters for displaced people, claiming to carry out precise strikes on Palestinian militants while attempting to minimize civilian casualties. However, the results have often been catastrophic, with numerous instances of women and children being killed in these strikes. The situation is particularly dire, as the Israeli military has also detained dozens of medics in recent weeks, hindering medical efforts and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Fierce Confrontation Erupts in Gaza Zone (Image via Getty)
The war, which began when Hamas-led militants launched an attack into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and abducting around 250, has resulted in a dire humanitarian situation. According to local health authorities, over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory offensive. Furthermore, approximately 90% of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced from their homes, often multiple times, leaving a massive influx of people in need of shelter and assistance.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the militant group Hezbollah has chosen Sheikh Naim Kassem as its new top leader following the death of Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last month. Hezbollah vowed to continue pursuing Mr. Nasrallah’s policies “until victory is achieved.” The group’s decision-making Shura Council elected Kassem, who had served as deputy leader for over three decades, to replace Nasrallah as secretary-general. The development comes at a time when tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating rapidly, further complicating the already dire situation in the region.
