Deadly Israeli strike targeted 'spotter' on Beit Lahia building's roof, official says

A tragic incident occurred in Beit Lahia, a city located in northern Gaza, where an Israeli air strike targeted a five-story residential building. This strike took place on a Tuesday and was reportedly in response to the Israeli military observing a 'spotter' on the roof of the building using binoculars to watch their forces. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, the strike resulted in the deaths of over 90 Palestinians, including 25 children, with many others still missing beneath the rubble of the collapsed building. The Israeli military stated that the strike was not planned and that they were unaware that the building was being used as a shelter for displaced individuals. They also mentioned that there were inconsistencies between the casualty figures reported and what they had observed. This incident sparked outrage, with many describing it as a 'horrifying incident with a horrifying result' and demanding an explanation from the Israeli government. Following the military official's comments to reporters, a spokesperson from the US State Department expressed that Israel was 'not doing enough to provide the answers we have requested. ' They noted that Israel had indicated they were investigating the matter. Due to restrictions, Israel does not allow the BBC and other international media to report independently from Gaza, making it challenging to verify the facts on the ground. Consequently, the news relies heavily on video footage and witness accounts. Videos shared on social media shortly after the strike depicted numerous bodies wrapped in blankets and individuals attempting to collect body parts from the scene. One survivor, Umm Malik Abu Nasr, recounted her experience during the strike, explaining that it destroyed her family's home and that she was among the survivors rescued from the debris. She described how, around midnight, the neighboring Awda family's house was bombed, prompting them to rush to help. Tragically, a young girl from that family died in their home. Later, at around 4 AM, the multi-story building housing the Abu Nasr family collapsed, which was sheltering approximately 300 displaced individuals who had fled their homes. Umm Malik emphasized that these people were civilians and had no connection to any armed groups. She expressed her anguish, stating that her husband and other young men were still trapped under the rubble, along with her husband's cousin and her five children. The director of the nearby Kamal Adwan hospital reported that they had received the bodies of more than 25 individuals killed in the strike, with another 77 still trapped beneath the debris. Additionally, around 45 injured individuals, including women and children, were brought to the hospital, some transported by horse-drawn carts or carried by others. The UN's Middle East peace envoy, Tor Wennesland, remarked that this incident was part of a 'deadly series of recent mass casualty events' and raised serious concerns about violations of humanitarian law. Since the Israeli military launched a ground offensive in Beit Lahia and neighboring areas on October 6, hundreds of people have reportedly lost their lives. The military stated that their actions were aimed at combating regrouping Hamas fighters. Over 70,000 residents have fled to Gaza City, but the UN estimates that around 100,000 individuals remain in dire conditions, facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The ongoing offensive has also led to the closure of essential services, including medical facilities, firefighting, search and rescue operations, water wells, and bakeries. Israel initiated this military campaign to dismantle Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals taken hostage. Since that time, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that over 43,160 people have died.