Cairo: A devastating Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, has resulted in at least 93 Palestinians being killed or reported missing, with many others injured, according to the Gaza health ministry. Among the deceased, medics confirmed that at least 20 were children.

The health ministry stated that numerous victims remain trapped under debris, complicating rescue efforts. Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza government media office, later confirmed the death toll. There was no immediate response from Israeli officials regarding the strike.

The Israeli military has often disputed casualty figures reported by Hamas-run media, claiming they tend to be inflated. The United States, Israel's key ally, expressed concern over the high number of casualties. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described the incident as "horrifying" and indicated that US officials had reached out to Israel for clarification, noting that many victims were children.

The UN Human Rights Office also expressed outrage, calling for a thorough investigation into what has been described as one of the deadliest attacks in recent months. Eyewitnesses reported witnessing horrific scenes, with bodies visible outside the bombed building, while neighbors attempted to assist with recovery efforts.

Additionally, later strikes in Beit Lahiya resulted in more casualties as Palestinian health officials reported further injuries. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service revealed that approximately 100,000 people in nearby Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun are trapped without access to medical or food supplies.

The Gaza health ministry indicated that those injured in the recent strike could not receive medical care as doctors evacuated the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital. The ministry warned that critical cases might not survive without immediate intervention.

Gaza's emergency services have largely ground to a halt due to the ongoing Israeli military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas, following the group’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of over 250 hostages.

The ongoing conflict has seen the death toll in Gaza exceed 43,000 since the retaliatory airstrikes began. As violence continues to escalate, Israel has also expanded its military operations into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, a group aligned with Hamas.

The recent airstrike occurred shortly after Israel's parliament passed a controversial law to restrict the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in the country. This move has raised concerns among Israel’s Western allies regarding its potential impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the legislation as "collective punishment." The full effects of this decision on the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip, many of whom have been internally displaced, remain unclear.

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