Israeli airstrike leaves 20 dead in northern Lebanon, according to local officials

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Health Ministry in Lebanon has confirmed the death of at least 20 individuals after an Israeli airstrike.

The ministry reported that the strike happened on Sunday in the village of Aalmat, located north of Beirut, far away from the southern and eastern areas where the Hezbollah militant group normally operates.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Below is AP’s earlier report.

Early Sunday, an Israeli airstrike hit a house sheltering displaced residents in the northern Gaza Strip, resulting in at least 17 deaths, according to the head of a nearby hospital.

Dr. Fadel Naim, who heads Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, confirmed that among the deceased were nine women. He warned that the death toll could increase as search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

The strike struck within the crowded Jabaliya refugee camp, a site where Israel has been conducting military actions for over a month.

The Israeli military has not immediately commented on the incident.

For the past month, Israeli forces have surrounded Jabaliya along with the neighboring towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, severely limiting the flow of humanitarian aid to the region. Since the beginning of the offensive on October 6, hundreds have lost their lives, and tens of thousands have sought shelter in Gaza City.

On Friday, a crisis panel responsible for food security sounded the alarm, stating that famine is looming in the north, if not already underway. The deteriorating conditions come as pressure mounts on Israel to boost the level of humanitarian aid entering Gaza— a condition the Biden administration has set or it may reconsider U.S. military support.

The northern regions of Gaza, particularly Gaza City, became Israel's primary objective during its ongoing ground invasion, bearing the brunt of the damage in this 13-month-long conflict, sparked by an initial Hamas offensive into southern Israel. Israeli troops have repeatedly returned to Gaza, claiming that Hamas militants continue to regroup in civilian areas.

The Israeli military maintains that it only targets militants, accusing them of sheltering among civilians in homes and alongside displaced people. However, Israeli strikes have often resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants breached Israel’s border, attacking southern towns. The assault resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, the majority of them civilians, and around 250 individuals were taken hostage. Out of the hostages, around one-third are presumed dead, with some 100 believed to still be held in Gaza.

Israel’s military campaign has claimed the lives of over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. These numbers don’t differentiate between militants and civilians, though health sources suggest more than half of the victims were either women or children.

With large scale bombings and ground assaults by Israel, vast regions of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, forcing around 90% of the 2.3 million residents to flee their homes — many of them more than once. Hundreds of thousands are now confined to overcrowded tent encampments, with little to no basic services and facing an uncertain future regarding the possibility of ever returning to their homes.

Efforts to mediate a cease-fire led by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have stumbled time and again throughout the year.

Qatar, which has played a central role in mediating with Hamas, announced over the weekend that it has paused its diplomatic efforts. The country emphasized it would only renew talks once “the involved sides demonstrate genuine interest in reaching an end to the vicious war and the continued suffering of civilians.”