The death toll in Gaza’s Beit Lahiya district continues to climb following Israeli airstrikes on a residential building that collapsed amid intense bombardment on October 29.
At least 62 people have been confirmed dead by al-Awda Hospital, which serves as one of the few medical facilities still operational in northern Gaza.
Local sources have reported that as many as 60 additional individuals are feared trapped under the debris, with little hope of survival.
“The sheer destruction from the bombs is staggering,” said a resident at the scene, describing the lack of necessary machinery to lift heavy concrete slabs that have buried victims beneath the building.
Volunteers and locals are struggling to access those trapped, and without immediate assistance, the casualty count is expected to rise further.
Al-Awda Hospital, a small but critical healthcare center, is already operating beyond its capacity. Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, urged all available surgeons to join the hospital’s overstretched medical staff, warning that many of the wounded may not survive due to the hospital’s limited resources.
“The world must take action and not just watch the genocide in the Gaza Strip,” Abu Safia told Al Jazeera, pleading for international intervention to help save the lives of those still fighting for survival.
Since the beginning of the month, Israel has targeted 39 shelter centers in Gaza, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, which stated that at least 188 Palestinians have died in these assaults, with hundreds more injured.
Israel’s attacks have also hit schools, clinics, and designated shelters for displaced residents, often forcing people to relocate while facilities are burned or destroyed.
“The targeting of these shelters renders them uninhabitable, preventing displaced Palestinians from seeking refuge there again,” the rights group reported.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at the possibility of a temporary ceasefire, though one far more restricted than previous proposals.
According to reports from Israeli media, U.S. CIA Director William Burns recently discussed a potential 20-day truce with Israeli and Qatari officials, which could involve Hamas releasing eight Israeli hostages in exchange for several Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
However, the limited nature of this potential ceasefire could complicate negotiations, as Hamas has previously insisted on a more permanent resolution.
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