An Israeli strike left at least 73 dead in a residential area of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, the civil defense of this Palestinian territory announced on Saturday evening. The Israeli army is leading a new offensive there against Hamas.
‘Civil defense teams found 73 dead and a large number injured by a strike’ in Beit Lahia, said the civil defense spokesperson. ‘And there are still dead people under the rubble,’ he added.
Rescuers were still searching for survivors early Sunday morning, but lacked the equipment to search the area, he added. All the victims, including several families, were transported to Kamal Adwan hospital in the Jabalia refugee camp, south of Beit Lahia, the spokesperson said.
Israeli army denies
The Hamas government media office confirmed the death toll, noting that women and children were among the dead.
The Israeli army affirmed that the assessment given by the Gaza authorities ‘does not correspond’ to the information in its possession, in particular ‘the munitions used and the precision of a strike on a Hamas target’.
On October 6, the army launched a new land and air offensive in the north of the Palestinian territory. It claims to target Hamas fighters who, according to the army, are rebuilding their capabilities after a year of strikes and fierce fighting.
Military operations in the north have left more than 400 dead in two weeks, the civil defense spokesperson told AFP earlier on Saturday.
/ATS
World
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