Israel Strikes Beit Lahiya Again, Hours After Deadly Bombing Kills 93

Late Tuesday night, Israel targeted homes belonging to the Al Louh family in Beit Lahiya, as reported by the Palestinian Civil Defence. This followed a devastating air raid on a five-story building owned by the Abu Nasr family that left 93 people dead and dozens injured. 

While Israel’s military stated it was investigating the incident, the United States described the attack as "horrifying." The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) expressed shock, calling it one of the deadliest attacks in Gaza in nearly three months. The UN’s humanitarian agency (OCHA) noted that the bombing was among seven "mass casualty incidents" in Gaza over the past week. 

The strikes come as Israel continues its genocidal military campaign in northern Gaza, which is now in its 26th day, under the pretext of preventing Hamas fighters from regrouping in the region. Despite claiming earlier this year that it had neutralized the group in the north, Israel has intensified its offensive, leading to widespread civilian suffering. 

According to Palestinian rescue officials, over 100,000 civilians remain stranded without access to food and water, with many buried beneath debris, as continued strikes prevent rescue efforts. Video footage obtained by Al Jazeera shows survivors attempting to free a man trapped under rubble, surrounded by bodies wrapped in blankets. 

Eyewitness Ismail Ouaida said the bombing struck without warning. "There are martyrs all over the place," he recounted, pointing to bodies buried under rubble. 

A grieving Palestinian woman confirmed to Al Jazeera that the attack claimed multiple members of her family. "Both my sons, their families, my unmarried daughter, and my other daughter with her five children—all killed," she cried. "What did they do to deserve this?" 

Rabie al-Shandagly, a 30-year-old survivor, described harrowing scenes. "It happened at night. I thought it was shelling, but come morning, we were pulling bodies and limbs from the rubble," he said. "There are no hospitals or proper medical care." 

Kamal Adwan Hospital, the main medical facility in northern Gaza, is overwhelmed. Director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya reported that many of the hospital’s staff had been detained by Israeli forces in a raid, leaving the facility without doctors or supplies. "The hospital is now a war zone, with injured people lying across the floors," Abu Safiya said, appealing for urgent international help. 

The UN's OHCHR called for a transparent investigation into the attack and urged Israel to allow rescue workers access to the bombed site. "Emergency services must not be targeted while performing their duties," OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said. 

UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland condemned the airstrikes, warning of potential violations of international humanitarian law. "The endless civilian deaths and displacement in Gaza are unacceptable," Wennesland said, demanding an end to the violence. 

The ongoing Israeli war has so far resulted in the deaths of 43,061 Palestinians, primarily women and children, according to Gaza health authorities.