Israel’s army has once more bombed residential buildings in Gaza’s Beit Lahiya, killing at the least 19 Palestinians, as civilians within the besieged northern city looked for survivors within the aftermath of an earlier Israeli raid that killed practically 100 folks.
The most recent Israeli bombing, late on Tuesday night time, hit a number of houses belonging to the Al Louh household, in response to the Palestinian Civil Defence in Gaza.
The assault got here lower than a day after Israel’s army bombed a five-storey constructing belonging to the Abu Nasr household in Beit Lahiya, killing at the least 93 folks and wounding dozens extra. The Ministry of Well being in Gaza mentioned at the least 25 kids had been among the many lifeless.
Israel’s army mentioned it was “trying into the experiences of the strike”, whereas its essential ally, america, referred to as the assault “horrifying”.
The United Nations Human Rights Workplace (OHCHR) mentioned it was “appalled” by the bombing, describing it one of many deadliest single assaults in Gaza in practically three months. The UN’s humanitarian company (OCHA) mentioned the assault on the Abu Nasr household residence was amongst seven “mass casualty incidents” in Gaza up to now week alone.
Israel’s escalating air and floor assault on Beit Lahiya comes as its siege of northern Gaza has entered its twenty sixth day.
The Israeli army mentioned it launched the offensive to cease Hamas fighters from regrouping within the north of the territory, regardless of saying earlier this 12 months that it had worn out the Palestinian group – which governs Gaza – within the space.
In keeping with the the Palestinian Civil Defence, greater than 100,000 folks stay trapped within the north with out meals and water and dozens stay buried within the rubble of bombed houses, with rescue employees unable to achieve them as a consequence of Israel’s ongoing siege and assaults.
Footage from the Israeli assault on the Abu Nasr household residence early on Tuesday, obtained by Al Jazeera, confirmed a Palestinian man coated in mud trapped underneath concrete and metal bars as others tried to interrupt aside partitions utilizing choose axes to free him. Exterior the constructing, a number of our bodies wrapped in blankets lay on the bottom.
‘Martyrs far and wide’
Ismail Ouaida, a witness, mentioned the Israeli assault got here with out warning.
“As you possibly can see, there are martyrs far and wide,” he mentioned, pointing to 2 lifeless our bodies underneath the rubble. “[There are] our bodies hanging over the partitions.”
One other Palestinian girl, in footage verified by Al Jazeera, mentioned she misplaced a number of members of her household.
“Each my sons with their total households had been killed. My single daughter was additionally killed,” the girl mentioned, weeping. “And my different daughter along with her 5 kids – all killed. What improper did they do? What did these harmless folks do to be slaughtered like this?”
Rabie al-Shandagly, a 30-year-old survivor, advised the AFP information company that many of the victims had been girls and kids.
“The explosion occurred at night time and I first thought it was shelling, however after I went out after dawn, I noticed folks pulling our bodies, limbs and the wounded from underneath the rubble,” he mentioned. “Individuals are making an attempt to save lots of the injured, however there are not any hospitals or correct medical care.”
On the Kamal Adwan Hospital, the primary medical facility serving the folks of north Gaza, dozens of wounded folks arrived searching for therapy, however the hospital’s director mentioned there have been no employees to deal with the sufferers as Israeli forces had arrested most of its employees in a raid final week.
“The Kamal Adwan Hospital and the complete neighborhood is a struggle zone. The hospital is left with no sources; no medical provides; no medical employees. It’s because lots of our specialised medical doctors and surgeons have been detained,” Dr Hussam Abu Safiya mentioned.
He described chaotic scenes with sufferers and the injured “strewn throughout” the hospital flooring, and referred to as for pressing worldwide intervention.
US, UN specific concern
In Washington, DC, a spokesman for the US State Division expressed concern.
“This was a horrifying incident with a horrifying end result,” Matthew Miller advised reporters. “We now have reached out to the federal government of Israel to ask what occurred right here.”
In Geneva, a spokesman for UN’s OHCHR referred to as for a immediate, clear and detailed investigation.
“It’s crucial for Israel to permit emergency rescue companies entry to such websites in North Gaza. In some instances, rescue employees themselves have been attacked whereas making an attempt to achieve the injured,” Jeremy Laurence mentioned.
The UN’s Center East peace envoy additionally condemned the assault.
“This horrific strike is one more in a lethal collection of current mass casualty incidents, alongside a large displacement marketing campaign, within the north of Gaza that raises critical issues about violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation,” Tor Wennesland mentioned in a press release.
“I unequivocally condemn the widespread killing and harm of civilians in Gaza, and the infinite displacement of the inhabitants in Gaza.”
Israel’s yearlong struggle has up to now killed at the least 43,061 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them girls and kids, in response to Palestinian officers.