Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 33 Palestinians, with the deadliest attack striking a multi-story house in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza. According to health officials, 22 individuals, including women and children, lost their lives in the Beit Lahiya attack. Rescue efforts continued throughout the morning, as several residents of the building, which housed more than 30 people, remained missing.
The Israeli military stated the strike targeted Hamas militants operating near Kamal Adwan Hospital, located between Beit Lahiya and Jabalia. While the military acknowledged the operation, it described the casualty figures reported by Palestinian medics as “inaccurate” and inconsistent with its data.
In a separate strike on Beit Hanoun, another northern town under Israeli siege for over two months, medics reported casualties, though exact numbers were not provided. Rescue workers said several individuals were trapped under debris.
Central Gaza also faced devastation as an airstrike on a house in the Nuseirat camp claimed seven lives and injured others, according to medics. Additional strikes in Gaza City killed four people, including journalist Eman Al Shanti and her son. The Palestinian Union of Journalists reported that Al Shanti was the 193rd journalist killed since the onset of the war.
The Israeli military also confirmed that two rockets were launched from central Gaza into Israel on Wednesday. Both fell in open areas, causing no injuries, underscoring Gaza militants’ continued ability to launch rocket attacks despite extensive Israeli offensives.
Later in the day, the Israeli military issued evacuation orders to residents of Al Maghazi camp in central Gaza, citing rocket launches from the area. It advised residents to move to a designated humanitarian zone near the Mediterranean coast. However, both Palestinian and United Nations officials reiterated that there are no genuinely safe areas in Gaza. Israel attributes civilian casualties to Hamas’s alleged use of civilian areas as shields, a claim denied by Hamas.
The ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas-led fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The initial attack killed 1,200 Israelis and led to over 250 hostages being taken, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel launched an intensive military campaign in Gaza, which Palestinian health officials report has killed over 44,800 people to date. The fighting has primarily concentrated on Gaza’s northern areas, including Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia.
Israel asserts its military operations aim to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping and conducting further attacks. However, Palestinian officials accuse Israel of attempting to depopulate northern Gaza to establish a buffer zone, a charge Israeli officials deny.
