Israel acknowledged the reports but claimed earlier casualty figures provided by Hamas were "exaggerated." The Israeli military has been heavily bombarding northern Gaza recently, aiming to disrupt Hamas fighters from regrouping.
UN official Tor Wennesland warned that the "nightmare in Gaza is worsening" and called for an immediate end to the war. He stressed the importance of protecting civilians, stopping Palestinian displacement, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
By Sunday, Gaza's health ministry had revised the death toll from the Beit Lahia strike, raising it from 73 to 87. Ambulance services struggled to reach the scene, and Israel maintained the strike was a "precision" attack on a Hamas target, aiming to avoid civilian casualties.
Dr. Eid Sabbah, from Kamal Adwan Hospital, said that several buildings in Beit Lahia were destroyed, and he urged an end to the siege on Gaza hospitals. He warned that the ongoing situation could lead to dire consequences for the population.
In related news, Israel confirmed the death of Col. Ahsan Daksa in northern Gaza, while 33 others were reported killed in Jabalia airstrikes. Humanitarian groups have expressed concern about the lack of aid reaching Gaza, with Israel facing pressure to improve access.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, escalating tensions along the border. Hezbollah has been launching cross-border attacks in solidarity with Hamas.
