Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have escalated to unprecedented levels, with a recent attack on a five-story building in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, killing at least 93 Palestinians, including 25 children, with 40 more missing under the rubble. This incident follows nearly a month of Israeli siege and ground assault on Gaza, now entering its 24th day. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported 150 injuries, many fatal, as survivors and rescuers remain hampered by the near-total destruction of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.
The building in Beit Lahia housed about 300-400 displaced individuals, many of whom had sought refuge from previous bombings. The facility, once sheltering families, is now a site of mass carnage, exemplifying the deadly consequences of Israel’s relentless campaign across northern Gaza.
Hospitals and Lifelines Targeted
Medical aid is nearly nonexistent. Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last operational medical facility in the area, faces severe shortages, with only three doctors remaining after Israeli forces expelled or detained other staff last week. Director Dr. Hussam Abu Safia explained, “Most of those injured may die due to lack of resources,” urging international intervention against what he called “genocide in Gaza.” Other hospitals have ceased functioning altogether due to systematic attacks and blockades on fuel, food, and medical supplies, leaving countless wounded to suffer without care.
Further exacerbating the crisis, those seeking assistance at nearby medical facilities were struck by additional bombings. Israeli forces’ recent decision to restrict the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has further endangered Gaza’s remaining population of 2.3 million, cutting off essential resources amid escalating violence.
Strategic Plans of Ethnic Cleansing?
The recent offensive aligns with what has been dubbed the “Generals’ Plan” in Israel, a military proposal to establish northern Gaza as a “closed military zone” devoid of Palestinian residents. According to retired General Giora Eiland, those who leave would be granted minimal food and water, while those who remain are labeled Hamas operatives and thus targeted for elimination. Despite these plans, an estimated 400,000 civilians, including women and children, remain in the northern region, facing mounting hardships due to blockades and a lack of basic resources.
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Israel’s tactics have led to a humanitarian disaster, with more than 43,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023 and over 100,000 injured. Among the deceased, nearly 17,000 were children, according to the Gaza-based media office, and roughly 10,000 individuals are still missing and presumed dead.
Lebanon: A Parallel Front of Tragedy
The brutality is not confined to Gaza. In recent attacks on Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes in the Bekaa Valley killed at least 60 people overnight, including entire families. In the town of Ramm, one strike took the lives of a mother and her four children. Local officials described these attacks as “the most violent day in Baalbek since the beginning of the aggression.” Baalbek’s mayor, Bachir Khodr, noted that several people remained trapped under rubble, with more fatalities anticipated as rescue efforts continue.
The latest statistics reveal an unyielding assault on civilians in Lebanon as Israeli forces intensify their campaign against Hezbollah, with hundreds of Lebanese citizens already killed. This broad offensive exemplifies Israel’s aggressive and lethal approach across borders, targeting densely populated areas and leading to widespread destruction and death.