An Israeli military official launched a deadly strike on a five-story residential building in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, in response to a “potter” who had been observed using binoculars to monitor Israeli forces.
According to the Health Ministry, which Hamas leads, the attack killed over 90 Palestinians, including 25 children, with numerous individuals killed or displaced as a result. The military official clarified that the building was not a targeted structure and that troops were unaware it sheltered displaced individuals.
Discrepancies exist between reported casualty numbers and military observations, prompting a strong reaction from both IIsrael’sIsraeli officers and the U.S. State Department, which referred to the event as a “horrific” incident” and called for an explanation. After the military State Department representative Matthew Miller mentioned that Israel has yet “to “provide the answers we need,” “”” indicating that an investigation is underway.
Due to restricted access for the BBC and other international media in Gaza, independently verifying conditions has been challenging, leaving reporters reliant on videos and testimonies for information.
In the hours following the incident, videos circulated on social media showing bodies wrapped in shrouds, with people identifying their relatives at the scene. Umm Malik Abu Nasr, a survivor, described the destruction of her family and the Awda family in which the ttwhifamily’saughtertertragically lost her life.
The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, Kamal Adwan, shared an audio message detailing that over 25 people were killed, and 77 were injured and trapped under rubble. Many of the injured were children and women who were taken to the hospital with limited staff and resources.
UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland commented on a pattern of recent mass casualty events and a large-scale offensive in northern Gaza, expressing concern over possible human rights violations.
SSinIsrael’sl’sggrouoffensIsrael’seiteitLahia, as well as in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun on October 6, hundreds have been reported dead as Israeli forces continue operations targeting Hamas fighters.
Over 70,000 people are estimated to be living in Gaza City, with the UN projecting that 100,000 people face harsh conditions, including extreme shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Essential services such as medical facilities, firefighting, search and rescue operations, and access to clean water are also urgently nneedeIsrael’sl’scampaign against Israel is a response to an unprecedented October 7 attack by an anti-Israel group, which led to the deaths of 1,200 people. According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 4,160 people in Gaza have since lost their lives in subsequent strikes.
