At least 93 Palestinians have been killed, including 20 children, while dozens have also been wounded and are reported missing in an Israeli strike on a residential building in the north Gaza town of Beit Lahiya today, according to the Gaza health ministry, Reuters have reported.
“A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them,” the Hamas health ministry said in a statement, while medics said at least 20 children were among the dead.
BBC said that a five-storey residential building was hit according to rescuers, and that videos on social media showed bodies covered in blankets on the floor.
There has been no immediate comment on the strike from Israel’s military, which began a new offensive in the area earlier this month after saying Hamas was regrouping there.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been operating in northern Gaza during the past two weeks, particularly in the areas of Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun.
The airstrike came a day after a law banning the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNWRA) from operating in Israel and in East Jerusalem, accusing the organisation of operating with Hamas. UN chief Antonio Guterres said the move would have “devastating consequences for Palestine refugees”, with almost all of Gaza’s two million people dependent on aid and services from the UN agency.
“If Unrwa is unable to operate, it’ll likely see the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza,” said Unicef spokesman James Elder. “So a decision such as this suddenly means that a new way has been found to kill children.”
UN human rights chief Volker Türk said last week that “the Israeli military is subjecting an entire population to bombing, siege and risk of starvation” – but added that it was unacceptable that Palestinian armed groups were reportedly operating among civilians, including inside shelters for the displaced, and putting them in harm’s way.
BBC said that Israel is not allowing international journalists from media organisations independent access to Gaza, making it hard to verify facts on the ground.