Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s Beit Lahia kills 87, injures dozens
Palestinians inspect the damage after an Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip on October 19, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. (AFP Photo)
At least 87 people have been killed in an Israeli airstrike on the northern Gaza city of Beit Lahia, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry on Sunday. Over 40 others have been injured, with several reported to be in critical condition.
Massive destruction in northern Gaza
The airstrike, carried out late Saturday, flattened a residential block in Beit Lahia, leaving rescue workers scrambling through the rubble in search of survivors. The area has been heavily targeted as part of Israel’s ongoing military offensive, which has entered its 16th day.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with rescue operations continuing throughout the night and into the morning. “They have killed all the people,” said one woman, recounting the moment the building was struck. Rescue efforts have been hindered by a lack of machinery and the widespread destruction in the area.
Civilian casualties continue to rise in Gaza
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that since the start of the conflict, more than 42,600 people have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children. Nearly 99,800 others have been injured. Israel’s military actions, which followed a cross-border attack by Hamas in 2023, have displaced almost the entire population of Gaza.
The ongoing blockade has resulted in severe shortages of food, clean water and medical supplies, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
International calls for cease-fire
Despite a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, the Israeli military has continued its offensive. The ongoing siege of Gaza has prompted widespread international condemnation, with growing concerns over the impact on civilians.
Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its actions in Gaza.
A worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed by the influx of casualties, with medical staff working around the clock under increasingly hard conditions. Reports from local hospitals indicate that many of those brought in from the Beit Lahia airstrike are children, with images showing widespread devastation.
Israel has defended its military operations, citing efforts to dismantle Hamas infrastructure, but the mounting civilian death toll has drawn sharp criticism from international human rights organizations.
