Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza overnight have reportedly killed dozens, including women and children, as the region faces intensified military action and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Paramedics and Hamas-affiliated media reported at least 66 fatalities near Kamal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahia, where houses sheltering displaced individuals were hit. An unverified video showed over 20 bodies lined up in a street. Another 22 people were reported killed in a strike on a house in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defense agency.
The Israeli military has not commented on the latest strikes but has recently escalated its offensive in northern Gaza, stating its aim is to prevent Hamas from regrouping. Strikes in the southern city of Khan Younis and nearby Rafah were also reported Thursday morning, with a hospital receiving 24 bodies of those killed.
Northern Gaza remains under siege with minimal humanitarian aid for over 40 days, according to the UN. Medical personnel in Gaza report struggling to treat the injured as essential supplies cannot reach the area. Earlier this week, an airstrike on a residential block in Beit Lahia killed at least 34 people, according to the civil defense agency.
The ongoing conflict has displaced approximately 130,000 people in northern Gaza over the past five weeks, with 75,000 still under siege in towns like Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Beit Hanoun. The UN reports that nearly 1.9 million people—90% of Gaza’s population—have fled their homes in the past year, with 79% of the territory under Israeli-issued evacuation orders.
Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity by deliberately causing mass displacement in Gaza. The campaign follows Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel, which left about 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
Since the escalation, nearly 44,000 people have been killed, and over 104,000 injured in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Meanwhile, the US blocked a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, marking the fourth time it has used its veto power during the conflict. The resolution, which 14 of the 15 council members supported, demanded an immediate and unconditional end to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages. The US argued that the resolution failed to link a ceasefire with the release of hostages, which it said could embolden Hamas.
In a related development, US mediator Amos Hochstein arrived in Israel from Lebanon for discussions on the conflict.
