34 Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Residential Building in Northern Gaza

An Israeli airstrike on a five-story residential building in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, has resulted in the deaths of at least 34 people, including women and children, according to local civil defense officials.

The airstrike completely demolished the building, leaving a large pile of rubble in its place. Dozens of people are feared to be trapped under the debris, and seven others have been reported injured.

Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal warned that the chances of rescuing additional survivors are diminishing due to ongoing Israeli artillery shelling and airstrikes in the area.

“The whole area was shaking,” said one resident whose family lived in the destroyed building, describing the shock and panic caused by the airstrike.

The Israeli military confirmed conducting strikes in northern Gaza, including in Beit Lahia, targeting what they described as militant sites linked to Hamas in an effort to disrupt their operations and prevent the group from regrouping.

Israel maintains that its military offensive is aimed at neutralizing “terrorist targets.”

In addition to the attack on Beit Lahia, airstrikes on refugee camps in central Gaza left 15 more dead, while a drone strike in Rafah killed five others.

The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza remains dire, with around 130,000 people displaced by Israel’s ongoing ground offensive over the past five weeks. Many of those displaced are unable to escape the increasingly dangerous zones.

The UN estimates that at least 75,000 people remain trapped in areas like Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun, facing critical shortages of essential resources.

Amid the ongoing violence, many residents of Gaza have voiced their frustration over the destruction of their homes and the challenges they face in trying to escape.

The United Nations and human rights organizations have condemned the scale of destruction and displacement in Gaza.

Human Rights Watch recently accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by intentionally causing mass displacement.

Since Israel launched its offensive after the October 7th Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed over 1,200 people, more than 43,700 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel’s operation in Gaza, aimed at dismantling Hamas, has had severe consequences for the Palestinian civilian population.

The UN reports that nearly 1.9 million people—90% of Gaza’s population—have been displaced in the past year, with 79% of the territory now under Israeli-issued evacuation orders.