Israeli strikes in northern Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 22 people, stated Palestinian officials adding that the majority of the victims were women and children.
The Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency service stated that 11 women and two children were killed in strikes on several homes and buildings in the northern town of Beit Lahiya late Saturday.
It stated that another 15 people were wounded and that the death toll could rise. The Ministry listed the names of those killed, most of whom came from three families.
The Israeli military claimed it conducted a precise strike targeting militants in a structure in Beit Lahiya and took measures to avoid harming civilians. However, it disputed the casualty numbers reported by the media, without providing further elaboration or evidence to support its own claims.
Israel continues to carry out daily strikes across Gaza while also engaging in air and ground operations against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. An Israeli airstrike on a southern neighborhood of Beirut early Sunday sent flames and smoke rising into the sky.
On Saturday, Israeli warplanes targeted military sites in Iran—supporter of both Hamas and Hezbollah—in retaliation for an Iranian ballistic missile attack earlier this month.
These escalating conflicts have heightened concerns about a potential all-out regional war pitting Israel and the United States against Iran and its militant proxies, which include the Houthi rebels in Yemen and armed groups in Syria and Iraq.
In a separate incident, a truck crashed into a bus stop near Tel Aviv, injuring 35 people, though the circumstances remain unclear. This event occurred near the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, and while first responders treat it as a terrorist attack, the details of the assailant’s status remain unconfirmed.
In response to Israeli airstrikes on Iran, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed that the impacts of these strikes should not be understated or exaggerated. The exchange of fire raises concerns of a wider regional conflict involving Israel, the United States, Iran, and militant factions like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes against Iran accomplished Israel’s objectives, severely impacting Iran’s defense capabilities. Meanwhile, the supreme leader emphasized that the authorities would determine Iran’s response.
The ongoing conflict has also seen incidents of violence within Israel, such as the recent truck attack near Tel Aviv, raising tensions amidst an already volatile situation. In the Gaza Strip, the Red Cross has described the circumstances as horrific, with severe limitations on humanitarian aid exacerbating the plight of civilians in the area.
The conflict, which began with a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants in 2023, has led to widespread devastation, with significant loss of life and dire humanitarian consequences. Both sides have reported substantial casualties, but the impact on civilian populations, including displacement and shortages of essential supplies, remains a grave concern.