Reports indicate that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 73 individuals, including women and children, in Beit Lahia, a city in northern Gaza, according to authorities controlled by Hamas.
In addition to the fatalities, dozens of people have sustained injuries, and many are still trapped beneath the rubble following the bombing that occurred late Saturday night.
Israel has stated that it is in the process of verifying the casualty reports but has described the figures released by Hamas as “exaggerated,” claiming they do not align with the information held by its military.
Ongoing fighting has also been reported in southern Lebanon and in the southern regions of Beirut, with smoke observed rising above the city on Sunday morning.
The Israeli air force has announced that it has targeted approximately 175 “terrorist targets” in both Gaza and Lebanon over the past 24 hours.
The media office run by Hamas claims that the airstrikes in Beit Lahia struck “crowded” residential areas, contributing to the reported death toll of 73, a figure echoed by Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency.
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, an entire residential complex was destroyed as a result of the strikes.
Rescue operations in Beit Lahia are currently facing significant challenges, as communications and internet services have been cut off in the region, according to health officials in Gaza.
The latest airstrikes occurred just hours after reports emerged of heavy gunfire from Israeli troops targeting the Indonesian Hospital in the city.
Read also: “Israel will not be able to defeat us – Sheikh Naim Qassim”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) communicated to the BBC that they had targeted a “Hamas terror target” and are making efforts to minimize civilian harm.
The IDF reiterated that the casualty figures provided by the Hamas office are “exaggerated” and pointed out that such sources have been deemed unreliable in previous incidents.
Israel has initiated a renewed military offensive in northern Gaza since early October, asserting that its goal is to prevent Hamas from regrouping in the area.
A particular focus of Israeli operations has been the densely populated Jabalia area, which includes an urban refugee camp.
Reports indicate that at least 33 individuals have been killed in this ongoing conflict, highlighting the severe impact on civilian life in the region.
