Israeli Airstrike Kills 20 in Northern Gaza Amid Ongoing Military Operation

In the latest escalation of the conflict in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike has killed at least 20 people, mostly women and children, Palestinian officials reported on Tuesday. The strike hit a home in the town of Beit Lahiya, where displaced families were sheltering, according to the director of the local hospital.

The Israeli military stated that the target was a weapons storage facility used by militants, and that steps were taken to mitigate civilian casualties. However, the attack left 8 women and 6 children dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

This incident comes amid a nearly month-long air and ground operation by Israel in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, which is already the most isolated and heavily damaged area of the territory. The offensive was launched after Israel said Hamas militants had regrouped in the region.

The military has ordered the complete evacuation of several towns and refugee camps in the north, and has severely limited the delivery of humanitarian aid to the area. This has drawn criticism from the Biden administration, which has warned that U.S. laws may force a reduction in military aid to Israel if more aid is not allowed in.

The ongoing offensive has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians, with around 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population having fled their homes at some point during the conflict. The three main hospitals serving the northern region have been largely inaccessible due to the fighting, and ambulances have stopped operating.

Palestinian officials say the latest wave of strikes has killed a total of 30 people, including women and children. The offensive has raised fears among Palestinians that Israel is implementing a “surrender-or-starve” plan for northern Gaza, in which civilians would be forced to leave or face the consequences.