At least 34 individuals lost their lives and another 20 sustained injuries following an Israeli airstrike on a five-story structure sheltering displaced Palestinians in the northern region of the Gaza Strip, according to reports from Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The ongoing conflict, which has spanned more than a year, has resulted in over 43,000 deaths, as reported by officials within Gaza on Monday, although they did not differentiate between civilian and combatant fatalities.
In the political arena, Israeli lawmakers advanced two pieces of legislation on Monday that could jeopardize the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). As the primary aid organization in Gaza, UNRWA’s connections with Israel could be severed under these new laws, which would also prohibit the agency from functioning on Israeli territory. This has led to growing fears about UNRWA’s capability to continue providing essential services to both the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
In London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his condolences to the Lebanese Prime Minister regarding the loss of life from recent Israeli attacks. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, since the escalation began on October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah initiated strikes against Israel, over 2,700 people in Lebanon have been killed, with almost 12,600 injured.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian conveyed that Iran would take appropriate measures in response to Israeli attacks on Iranian military sites, marking a significant escalation in hostilities. Meanwhile, the United States has issued a warning to Iran, stating there would be “severe consequences” for any attacks targeting Israeli or American forces in the area.
Both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which are currently engaged in conflict with Israel, receive backing from Iran.
In the latest developments, Hezbollah announced the appointment of Naim Kassem as the successor to the late leader Hassan Nasrallah. Nasrallah lost his life in an Israeli aerial strike back in September. Kassem, who had been serving as Nasrallah’s deputy, was designated as the acting leader following Nasrallah’s death, with his official appointment disclosed on Tuesday.
In Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of at least 34 people sheltering in a building for displaced Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It is reported that over half of those deceased were women and children, with the strike also injuring approximately 20 more individuals. The strike took place in Beit Lahiya, a town located near the Israeli border.
The Israeli military, which has been actively conducting operations in northern Gaza for over three weeks, has not made immediate comments regarding this latest airstrike. The military claims it is targeting areas where Hamas militants are believed to have re-established themselves.
Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya, who oversees the nearby Kamal Adwan Hospital, noted that it has been overwhelmed with casualties from the strike. Reports also indicate that Israeli forces entered the hospital over the weekend, detaining several medical personnel. Subsequently, Israeli officials announced the arrest of numerous Hamas militants during this operation.
The Israeli military has faced criticism for striking shelters for displaced persons in recent months, asserting that their operations are precise in nature and aimed at limiting civilian casualties. However, many of these strikes have tragically resulted in the deaths of women and children.
On an international level, the United Nations Secretary-General has cautioned Israel about the potential repercussions of enforcing two new laws that could hinder UNRWA’s essential services for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the critical role of UNRWA, stating that the implementation of these laws could lead to “devastating consequences” for Palestinians in the occupied territories, which he deemed unacceptable.
UNRWA was created in 1949 to assist those Palestinians who were displaced during the formation of Israel and their descendants.
The recent laws passed by Israel’s parliament will not take immediate effect, but they would isolate the agency and prevent it from functioning within Israeli territory. This development arises amid an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now intensified in its second year, which follows Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023.
Guterres has urged Israel to adhere to its commitments under international law and the United Nations Charter, stressing that national legislation cannot override these obligations, and he warned that such actions would be counterproductive to the overarching goal of achieving peace and security in the region.