Beit Lahiya Declared Disaster Zone As Israel Steps Up Attacks

The situation, described by UN officials as "catastrophic," has left hundreds dead and intensified a humanitarian crisis across the Strip.

Weeks of Israeli airstrikes have taken a heavy toll on Beit Lahiya, where nearly 120 Palestinians have been killed. 

Raed al-Nems, spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza, said the situation in the northern part of the enclave is "catastrophic" as ambulances are blocked from accessing the injured.

“The priority is to stop the aggression in North Gaza and allow ambulance teams to enter,” al-Nems said. He added that the death toll is climbing as rescue efforts are hampered by restricted access to the wounded.

The Israeli military has maintained a siege on northern Gaza since early October, cutting off essential aid. Al-Nems also reported that soldiers have been deliberately setting fire to refugee shelters, further worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Oxfam stated it has been unable to deliver aid to northern Gaza due to continued bombing. The organization accused Israel of employing starvation as a weapon in its offensive.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that Israeli strikes on Jabalia, Beit Hanoon, and Beit Lahiya have killed around 800 people since the beginning of the siege. Between October 24 and 29, the United Nations documented seven "mass casualty incidents" in the area.

Meanwhile, airstrikes continue across the Gaza Strip, with casualties reported in Khan Younis, Deir el-Balah, and Gaza City.

Since the beginning of the Israeli genocidal war on October 7, 2023, at least 43,061 people have been killed, and 101,223 others wounded in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza health authorities.