By Nidal al-Mughrabi
CAIRO (Reuters) – A complete of 87 individuals have been killed or lacking underneath the rubble after an Israeli assault on Saturday on northern Gaza’s city of Beit Lahiya, with greater than 40 wounded, the Palestinian enclave’s well being ministry mentioned on Sunday.
The Israeli army has mentioned it was investigating studies of the incident, which left one of many highest casualty tolls in months. Earlier, it mentioned a complete of 73 reported by the Hamas media workplace appeared exaggerated given the character of the munitions used within the strike, which it mentioned hit a Hamas goal.
Gaza’s well being ministry mentioned rescue operations have been being hindered by communications issues and by the Israeli army operation nonetheless happening across the space, near the border line with Israel, the ministry mentioned.
“Victims are nonetheless underneath the rubble and on the highway and ambulance groups and civil emergency cannot attain them,” it mentioned in an announcement.
The strike, late on Saturday evening, got here two weeks into a serious operation across the city of Jabalia, simply to the south of Beit Lahiya, the place Israeli troops backed with tanks have been attempting to squeeze out remaining Hamas fighters.
“Horrifying scenes unfolding in Gaza, amidst battle, relentless Israeli strikes & an ever-worsening humanitarian disaster. I condemn the persevering with assaults on civilians,” U.N. Center East peace envoy Tor Wennesland posted on X.
“Hostages have to be freed, displacement of Palestinians should stop, & civilians have to be protected,” he added.
Evacuation orders, directing individuals south, have fuelled fears amongst many Palestinians that the operation is meant to clear them out of the northern a part of Gaza with a view to assist guarantee Israeli management of the realm after the struggle.
Israel has denied any such plans, saying it’s attempting to guard civilians and separate them from Hamas fighters.
The army says it has killed scores of armed Palestinian fighters, situated weapons, and dismantled quite a lot of army infrastructure through the operation in Jabalia, house to considered one of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps.
Residents in Jabalia mentioned Israeli forces raided shelters housing displaced households and detained dozens of males.
FIGHTING IN GAZA REMAINS INTENSE
The dying final week of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar had drawn hopes of a potential opening up of strikes to finish the combating in Gaza, greater than a yr after the Oct. 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel by Hamas-led gunmen who killed some 1,200 individuals and seized 251 hostages.
However the newest incident underscores how intense the battle in Gaza nonetheless stays, whilst Israel’s predominant focus has shifted north to its operation towards the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Greater than 42,600 Palestinians have been killed throughout Israel’s floor offensive, in response to Palestinian well being ministry figures, and 1000’s extra are considered buried underneath the rubble. A lot of the coastal enclave has been destroyed and most of its 2.3 million inhabitants has been displaced.
Because the combating has continued, well being officers have reported stark shortages of meals, gasoline and medical provides to deal with sufferers within the three remaining hospitals nonetheless partially working within the space.
Officers on the Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and Al-Awda hospitals mentioned their services have been besieged by Israeli forces, and at Kamal Adwan Hospital officers mentioned the power got here underneath Israeli hearth.