Israeli air strikes late on Saturday killed at least 45 Palestinians in Gaza’s Beit Lahia [Getty]
Israeli airstrikes late on Saturday killed at least 45 Palestinians in Gaza’s Beit Lahia, with reports stating people were either vapourised by the force of the bombs or were trapped under rubble.
Residential buildings in the area came tumbling down in the overnight strikes, with dozens missing.
At least 80 others were wounded in the strikes, with their condition unknown.
According to various reports, residents in the area were told to evacuate but were bombed shortly after, leaving them no time to flee.
Most of those killed were women and children, various sources said, with entire families reportedly killed in the attacks.
Eyewitnesses and journalists on the ground said there were no emergency services to help with recovering bodies or to help people due to a lack of resources and incessant Israeli bombing making the area hard to reach.
Early on Sunday, at least 20 Palestinians were also killed in Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, medical sources said. The strikes targeted a residential complex located near the Al-Fakhoura School.
Israeli bombing continued in other areas in the Strip, including the Al-Bureij camp, Khan Younis, Al-Mawasi and the Nuseirat camp.
Israel has carried out an intense siege on north Gaza for over three weeks, cutting off the area from the rest of the Strip, and not allowing people to enter or exit. The area has also been cut off from any food, water, and humanitarian aid.
Israel is believed to be implementing a scheme called the “General’s Plan” designed to empty northern Gaza of its inhabitants by killing, starving, or expelling them.
World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus raised the alarm over the catastrophic situation in the north, noting that healthcare facilities have been attacked by Israeli forces.
“The situation in northern Gaza is catastrophic,” he said, adding that north Gaza’s last remaining functioning hospital, Kamal Adwan, has been attacked since Friday, with a trial of destruction left behind.
“A critical shortage of medical supplies, compounded by severely limited access, are depriving people of life-saving care”, he continued.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that Israeli attacks on north Gaza have killed at least 820 people over the course of the three-week offensive.
