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29 October 2024 Beit Lahia airstrike

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29 October 2024 Beit Lahia airstrike
Part of the siege of North Gaza during the Israel–Hamas war
Beit Lahia is located in Gaza Strip
Beit Lahia
Beit Lahia
Location within the Gaza Strip
LocationBeit Lahia, Gaza Strip, Palestine
Date29 October 2024; 6 days ago (2024-10-29)
6:30 a.m. (PSST)
Attack type
Airstrike
Deaths55–93+
InjuredDozens
Perpetrator Israel Defense Forces

On 29 October 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike on a five-story residential building in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, killing at least 55 to 93 Palestinians, including 25 children, and leaving 40 others missing.[1][2][3]

Background

The IDF, which had been conducting operations in northern Gaza, said that its attacks were aimed at preventing Hamas forces from regrouping. The IDF also accused Hamas of placing themselves among the civilian population, which Hamas denied.[4]

Attack

The airstrike occurred at 6:30 a.m. local time.[5] The building was being used to shelter displaced Palestinians. Ismail al-Thawabta, the director-general of Gaza's government Media Office, said that 200 people were inside the building when the attack occurred.[1]

The airstrike caused the building to collapse.[6] According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 93 people were confirmed killed in the strike, including 25 children, and dozens of others were injured. They also stated that more than half of those killed in the attack were women and children.[7] The Palestinian Civil Defence said that at least 55 people were killed.[3] Forty other people were reported missing.[2]

An IDF official said the strike was conducted after Israeli soldiers noticed a "spotter" on the building's roof. The official added that the strike had not been planned and that Israeli soldiers were not aware that the building was being used to shelter displaced persons.[6]

Aftermath

The Kamal Adwan Hospital, which was besieged by Israeli forces at the time of the airstrike, could not treat the wounded due to a lack of doctors.[2]

Reactions

Domestic

Gaza's Media Office condemned the strike, referring to it as a "horrific massacre against civilians, children and women", and demanded that medical teams be sent to northern Gaza.[1]

After the attack, the Municipality of Beit Lahia announced that the town had been declared a "disaster area", saying "[w]e declare that the city is a disaster area due to the Israeli war of extermination and siege, and it has no food, water, hospitals, doctors, services, or communications".[8]

International

The IDF said in a statement released on the day of the attack that it had killed 40 "terrorists" in the northern Gaza city of Jabalia, and that it "eliminated many terrorists" in central Gaza.[4] The United States called the bombing an "horrifying incident with a horrifying result".[9]

The French Foreign Ministry condemned the attack.[10] The UN Human Rights Office stated it was "appalled" by the airstrike and emphasized that "civilians are protected under international humanitarian law."[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "'Horrific' Israeli bombing of Gaza's Beit Lahiya kills at least 93". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  2. ^ a b c Smith, Alexander (2024-10-29). "Israeli airstrike kills 90 in Gaza, officials say, as aid fears grow after UNRWA ban". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  3. ^ a b "Israel Hits Gaza Town for Third Time in Days, Killing Dozens, Officials Say". The New York Times. 2024-10-29. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  4. ^ a b "US calls deadly Israeli air strike 'horrifying'". BBC. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  5. ^ "Live updates: The latest on war in the Middle East". CNN. 2024-10-29. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  6. ^ a b "Deadly Israeli strike targeted 'spotter' on Beit Lahia building's roof, official says". BBC. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  7. ^ "Israeli strike in northern Gaza on building where displaced people were taking refuge kills dozens, officials there say". CBS News. 2024-10-29. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  8. ^ "Northern Gaza's Beit Lahiya declared disaster area amid Israeli siege". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  9. ^ Kermani, Secunder. "Deadly Israeli strike on Gaza shelter for displaced people kills at least 90". Channel 4. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  10. ^ "France condemns Israeli strikes in Beit Lahiya that killed nearly 100". Al Jazeera. 30 October 2024.
  11. ^ Laurence, Jeremy. "Comment by UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on deadly Gaza strike". OHCHR. United Nations. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
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