War on Gaza: Israeli attack on Beit Lahiya kills at least 73 Palestinians
An Israeli attack on Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza, killed at least 73 Palestinians on Saturday evening, according to the enclave's government media office.
More than 100 others were wounded and several people missing.
Israeli air strikes targeted a multi-floor building and damaged a number of nearby houses, medics in the Gaza Strip reported.
The government media office said that Israeli forces had bombed overcrowded residential areas in Beit Lahiya, adding that women and children were amongst the casualties.
"This is a war of genocide and ethnic cleansing. The occupation has conducted a horrifying massacre in Beit Lahiya," the media office said.
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The attack shook the entire western part of the town, and buildings collapsed while people were inside, Al Jazeera reported. Residents were given no warnings to leave their homes.
Many people were left trapped under the rubble, with paramedics and civil defence crews unable to immediately reach the area due to the intensity of Israeli bombardment.
Hossam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, said that many of those wounded in the attack had died due to a severe lack of resources, medical supplies and specialised personnel at the facility.
He added dozens were missing under the rubble, and could not be rescued "due to the lack of resources and ongoing strikes".
Israeli siege on Jabalia enters 15th day
Earlier on Saturday, Israeli forces surrounded and shelled the Indonesian Hospital, which is also located in Beit Lahia.
Israeli forces targeted the upper floors, where over 40 patients and medical staff had been present, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Marwan Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital, said: "Israeli tanks have completely surrounded the hospital, cut off electricity and shelled the hospital, targeting the second and third floors with artillery."
Saturday's attack come as Israel's total siege on Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza entered its 15th day. No food or clean water has arrived in the camp during that time.
Mohammed al-Hajjar, Middle East Eye's correspondent in Gaza, reported that Israel's military had targeted "any place where movement is detected" in Jabalia. He added that many people were trapped inside their homes, suffering from hunger and thirst.
In the south of the enclave, Israeli planes dropped leaflets showing a picture of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's body, accompanied by a message stating: "Hamas will no longer rule Gaza."
Drawing from a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Israeli forces killed Sinwar in Rafah earlier this week, the leaflets read: "Whoever lays down their weapons and hands over the hostages will be allowed to leave and live in peace."
Elsewhere, an Israeli attack on Asmaa school in al-Shati refugee camp, in Gaza City, killed seven Palestinians. The school, which is affiliated with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), was being used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians.
In Israel, a drone launched from Lebanon flew 70km to strike Netanyahu's house in Caesarea, north of the country.
The prime minister and his family were not in Caesarea, according to his office. The Israeli army reported that there had been no casualties.
Meanwhile, one person was killed and at least 14 others wounded after Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks on northern Israel.
In the Lebanese capital, Israeli air strikes on Saturday targeted the southern suburbs, an area colloquially known as Dahiyeh, for the first time since Wednesday.
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