Israeli strikes on several homes in northern Gaza overnight and into Sunday left at least 87 people dead or missing, the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry said.
He said another 40 people were injured in strikes on the town of Beit Lahiya, which was one of Israel’s first targets almost a year ago.
Israel has been carrying out a large-scale operation in northern Gaza for two weeks, claiming that Hamas has regrouped there. Palestinian officials say hundreds of people have been killed and the health sector in the north is on the brink of collapse.
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Meanwhile, the United States is urging Israel to push for a ceasefire in Gaza following the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week. Neither Israel nor Hamas has expressed renewed interest in such a deal. Months of negotiations led by the United States, Egypt and Qatar came to a halt in August.
Iran supports Hamas and the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, where a year of growing tensions erupted last month. Israel sent ground troops to Lebanon in early October.
Saturday, a a drone targeted the house of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuwithout causing any casualties, as part of a barrage of projectiles crossing the northern border of the country. It was unclear whether the house was hit.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a phone call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday, the Pentagon said in a statement, during which they discussed “regional security developments”, including the recent deployment of armed forces. a terminal high altitude area defense system. During the call, Austin told Gallant he was “relieved” that Netanyahu was safe after the drone strike.
Former President Donald Trump said at a rally Saturday that he had spoken with Netanyahu.
In a statement to CBS News, the prime minister’s office confirmed the conversation took place and said Netanyahu “reiterated what he also said publicly: Israel takes into account the issues raised by the U.S. administration, but ultimately it will make its decisions based on its national interests. »
Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its strikes against southern Beirut neighborhoods known as Dahiyeh, a crowded residential area. Hezbollah has a strong presence there, but it is also home to large numbers of civilians and people unaffiliated with the militant group.
Austin called civilian casualties in Lebanon “far too high” in Israel’s war with Hezbollah and urged Israel to reduce some strikes, particularly in and around Beirut.
There was no immediate comment on the strikes in Beit Lahiya from the Israeli military, which said it “continued to operate across Gaza in airstrikes and ground operations.”
Among the dead were two parents and their four children, as well as a woman, her son, her daughter-in-law and their four children, according to Raheem Kheder, a doctor. He said the strike had razed a multi-story building and at least four neighboring houses.
ISLAM AHMED/AFP via Getty Images
Doctors Without Borders, the international charity known by its French acronym MSF, called on Israeli forces “to immediately cease their attacks on hospitals in northern Gaza” after the Health Ministry said Israeli troops had opened fire at two hospitals over the weekend.
The military said it was operating near one of the hospitals but did not fire directly at it, and was investigating the other incident.
“The escalation of violence and relentless Israeli military operations that we have seen over the past two weeks in northern Gaza are having horrific consequences,” said Anna Halford, emergency coordinator for MSF.
“When hospitals are attacked, their infrastructure destroyed and the electricity cut off, the lives of patients and medical staff are threatened.”
The north has already suffered the heaviest destruction of the war and has been surrounded by Israeli forces since late last year, following deadly attacks. Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Most of the population fled last year, but around 400,000 people are estimated to have remained in the north.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The war has destroyed large areas of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of 2.3 million.
Margaret Brennan contributed to this report.
