A Deadly Night in Gaza: Airstrike Kills 20, Raises Questions

Late Monday night, an Israeli airstrike hit a home in northern Gaza, killing at least 20 people, most of them women and children, Palestinian officials reported. This strike occurred in the town of Beit Lahiya, close to the border with Israel. The home was sheltering several displaced families, and the casualties were taken to the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital. The Israeli military claimed they targeted a weapons storage site operated by militants. They stated they took steps to minimize civilian harm. However, the strike added to the already significant death toll in the ongoing conflict. This incident sparked concern about Israel's strategy in the northern Gaza region. Israel started this offensive after suspecting Hamas militants had regrouped there. Despite repeated operations, Hamas continues to launch hit-and-run attacks and occasional rocket strikes into Israel. The military has ordered the evacuation of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and the Jabaliya refugee camp. For over a month, almost no humanitarian aid has been allowed into these areas. This has led to tens of thousands of people fleeing to Gaza City, with around 90% of the territory's 2. 3 million population displaced multiple times during the war. Several hospitals in the area have been largely inaccessible due to fighting, and ambulances have stopped operating. Last month, Israeli troops raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, alleging Hamas militants were sheltering there. Palestinian health officials deny these claims. The Israeli military denies receiving orders for a so-called "surrender-or-starve" plan, although the government hasn't clarified its position. This plan, proposed by former generals, involves evacuating civilians, cutting off aid, and labeling remaining people as fighters. In a separate wave of strikes early Tuesday, another 10 people were killed, including four children and two women. A strike hit a house in Gaza City, killing two children and their parents. In Zuweida, an airstrike hit a tent sheltering a displaced family, killing four, including a mother and her two children. The Israeli military insists they only target militants but acknowledges that strikes often kill women and children. The conflict began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing over 1, 200 people and taking 250 hostage, of whom 100 are still inside Gaza. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 43, 000 Palestinians, with more than half being women and children.