More than 100 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential building in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, China Media Group reported on Wednesday. Among the dead were at least 20 children, according to medics.
The Gaza Health Ministry stated that many victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, with ambulance and civil defense crews unable to reach them due to ongoing hostilities. The wounded are in dire need of medical attention, but doctors have been forced to evacuate the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital.
“Critical cases without intervention will succumb to their destiny and die,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Intense battles between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters continue to rage in northern Gaza, which has been under siege as Israel seeks to eradicate remnants of the group, a witness told CGTN. Approximately 100,000 people are trapped in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun without medical or food supplies, according to the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service.
The area remains under siege with only a handful of journalists present, the witness said on Wednesday.
The health ministry noted that those wounded in the Beit Lahiya strike could not receive care due to the evacuation of medical facilities. “Critical cases without intervention will succumb to their destiny and die,” the ministry emphasized.
Gaza’s emergency service announced that its operations have halted because of the three-week Israeli assault into northern Gaza. Israel states its campaign aims to destroy Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose fighters had regrouped in the area during the ongoing conflict.
Global Reactions
Israel’s main ally, the United States, expressed concern over the high casualty toll in Beit Lahiya. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called it a “horrifying incident with a horrifying result,” noting that U.S. officials have reached out to the Israeli government for clarification.
The UN Human Rights Office said it was “appalled” by one of the deadliest single attacks in nearly three months, calling for a prompt and transparent investigation into the circumstances.
Ceasefire Talks Resume
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have resumed, led by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Egypt’s president proposed a two-day truce to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, followed by talks within ten days on a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that mediators would resume talks in the coming days “in a continued attempt to advance a deal.” However, Israel has reiterated that the war will continue until Hamas is eradicated, while Hamas insists that fighting will not end until Israeli forces leave Gaza.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, indicated the movement’s openness to agreements that would end the suffering of the people in Gaza and establish a permanent ceasefire. He emphasized that any agreement should include the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all of Gaza, the lifting of the blockade, the provision of relief and reconstruction aid, and a serious prisoner swap deal.
Abu Zuhri’s statement signaled no change to Hamas’s existing conditions. The conflict continues as both sides hold firm on their demands.
(With input from Reuters and Xinhua)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
