GAZA, (PIC)
At least 73 Palestinians, including many women and children, were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Saturday night that hit several houses in Beit Lahiya town in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office (GMO), at least 100 were wounded and many others are still being buried under the rubble of bombed buildings.
Local residents said that the Israeli army carried out the nighttime aerial attack in Beit Lahia without prior notice.
Medical sources said the airstrikes targeted a multi-floor building and several nearby houses.
The death toll from the aerial attack is likely to rise as many wounded citizens suffer from critical injuries and medical crews are unable to deal with the large number of casualties.
Director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital Husam Abu Safiya said that a number of wounded citizens died due to the lack of medical capabilities and supplies, adding that medical crews prioritize lifesaving emergency care.
Dozens of victims have been reported missing under the rubble and ambulance and rescue crews are unable to help them due to the lack of means and the nonstop Israeli attacks on different areas of northern Gaza, according to Abu Safiya.
GMO said that the Israeli occupation army bombed overcrowded residential areas in Beit Lahiya, adding that several women and children were among the casualties.
“This is a war of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The occupation has committed a horrifying massacre in Beit Lahiya,” GMO added.
GMO said rescue operations in northern Gaza were being hampered by the Israeli cut-off of telecommunication and internet services for a second day.
Earlier in the day, Gaza’s health ministry said Israeli military attacks killed 35 Palestinians across the coastal enclave.
This new Israeli massacre has happened as the occupation has destroyed the remaining health and medical system in northern Gaza, which is currently home to about 400,000 people.
Since it laid its tight siege on northern Gaza about two weeks ago, the Israeli army has embarked on attacking and besieging hospitals in northern Gaza. The army also ordered those hospitals to evacuate and prevented them from receiving vital supplies, including fuel and food.
GMO has held the US administration, Britain, Germany, France and other countries that support the Israeli occupation regime in its war on Gaza fully responsible for the genocidal and ethnic cleansing crimes that are happening in northern Gaza, especially in Jabalia and Beit Lahia.
