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Israel launches air strike in Gaza, killing 60 amid rising civilian toll

29.10.2024 13:00
An Israeli air strike on Tuesday morning targeted a residential building in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 60 Palestinians, including women and children, local health officials reported.
A Palestinians carries the body of a boy during his funeral at Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir Al Balah town, central Gaza Strip, 29 October 2024. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Al Zawaida neighborhood overnight. More than 43,000 Palestinians, including o
A Palestinians carries the body of a boy during his funeral at Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir Al Balah town, central Gaza Strip, 29 October 2024. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Al Zawaida neighborhood overnight. More than 43,000 Palestinians, including oEPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Marwan Al-Hams, a spokesperson for Gaza's health ministry, indicated that many individuals remain trapped under the debris. Rescue operations are underway, with emergency services confirming that 17 people are still believed to be under the rubble.

Israeli authorities stated that the strike aimed to prevent Hamas from regrouping in the area. On Monday, Palestinian civil authorities reported that approximately 100,000 people remain isolated without food or medical supplies in Gaza’s Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun regions.

Meanwhile, Israel’s parliament recently approved a ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a decision that has drawn concerns from Western allies. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the move as “collective punishment,” while Israeli officials pointed to allegations of involvement by some UNRWA staff in Hamas activities as a justification.

The United Nations has reported severe impacts on Gaza’s healthcare system, citing an October report from its independent commission on the occupied Palestinian territories. According to the report, Israeli forces have targeted medical staff and facilities in Gaza, leading UN commission chair Navi Pillay to call for an immediate cessation of attacks on healthcare infrastructure, which, she noted, has particularly impacted children in the region.

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Source: Reuters, TVN24