Israeli strikes on north Lebanon and Gaza kill dozens, officials and rescuers say

Recent air strikes by Israel in northern Lebanon and Gaza have resulted in the deaths of many individuals, including children, according to reports from officials and rescuers. The Lebanese health ministry has confirmed that at least 23 people, among them seven children, lost their lives in Almat, a location near Byblos, which is situated to the north of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. In northern Gaza, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, along with Gaza's Hamas-run civil defense agency, reported that at least 30 individuals were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential house in Jabalia, with 13 of the deceased being children. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not provided comments regarding the strike in Lebanon but stated that they targeted a site in Jabalia where they believed 'terrorists were operating. ' They also mentioned that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm and that the details of the incident are currently under review. Rescue workers in Lebanon are still engaged in searching through the rubble following the strike in Almat. Israel has intensified its military campaign against Hezbollah, an armed group in Lebanon that is backed by Iran. Initially, the focus of Israel's operations was on southern Lebanon, aiming to diminish Hezbollah's ability to launch rockets across the border. However, in recent weeks, the military actions have expanded to include cities and towns throughout Lebanon. In a separate incident to the south, three medical workers were reported killed when an Israeli strike hit a building associated with the Islamic Health Authority in Adloun, according to the health ministry. The IDF also reported that they intercepted rockets fired by Hezbollah after the militant group launched 70 projectiles on Saturday. Since the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began seven weeks ago, at least 3,002 individuals have been killed, and more than 1. 2 million people have been displaced across Lebanon, as reported by Lebanese authorities. In Gaza, aid organizations have indicated that Jabalia and other regions have been under siege since early October when Israel initiated a new ground offensive against Hamas, a Palestinian armed group. Dr. Fadel Naim, the director of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, informed the AP news agency that his facility had received 17 bodies from Jabalia thus far, including nine women, and the death toll is expected to rise. Eyewitnesses described the Israeli strike as feeling like an 'earthquake. ' One eyewitness, Hamza Alloush, stated, 'We were just sitting peacefully. These are innocent citizens who don’t belong to any military organization or faction. ' He recounted that the house was bombed without any warning, resulting in the deaths of everyone inside. Those who managed to survive were thrown onto trees and neighbors, with many bodies still scattered under the rubble. Videos and images have surfaced showing multiple bodies wrapped in blankets in the back of cars and laid out on the ground at a hospital. Another strike in Gaza City resulted in the death of a welfare ministry official and seven members of his family, including his wife and children, according to medics and relatives. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, and Israel is facing a deadline from the United States to improve conditions or risk potential restrictions on military cooperation. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, recently arrived in Qatar to discuss the situation. On Saturday, Israel rejected warnings of famine in northern Gaza from global food security experts, claiming that the group relied on 'partial, biased data and superficial sources with vested interests. ' The independent Famine Review Committee (FRC) has warned of a strong likelihood of imminent famine and has called for immediate action to alleviate the catastrophic situation. In response, Israel stated that it has increased aid efforts, including opening an additional crossing to facilitate the delivery of more aid into southern Gaza. The IDF later reported that they had delivered 11 trucks of food, water, and medical supplies into Jabalia and Beit Hanoun on Thursday. Meanwhile, efforts to reach a ceasefire have stalled, with both Hamas and Israel needing to demonstrate their willingness to negotiate. Israel's current military offensive in Gaza was launched following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel and the abduction of 251 hostages taken back to Gaza. The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, has reported a death toll exceeding 43,600 individuals since the onset of the war, with many more bodies believed to be trapped under the rubble of bombed buildings. In Lebanon, Israel has taken offensive actions against Hezbollah after nearly a year of cross-border fighting that was ignited by the war in Gaza. Israeli air strikes have reportedly eliminated a significant portion of Hezbollah's leadership and caused widespread destruction in various parts of southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in the southern suburbs of Beirut, where Hezbollah has a strong presence. Israeli authorities have stated that more than 70 individuals have been killed by Hezbollah attacks in Israel and the occupied Golan Heights over the past year.