The targeted five-story building in Beit Lahiya was serving as a shelter for displaced Palestinian families. Tragically, 25 of the deceased were children.

The Israeli military has acknowledged awareness of civilian casualties and stated that it is investigating the incident. This strike comes amid broader actions by Israeli forces that have impeded medical and rescue services in the region and follows an Israeli parliament vote to ban the primary United Nations agency aiding Palestinians, UNRWA.

Tor Wennesland, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, addressed the U.N. Security Council, highlighting the severity of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza. "We are witnessing not only a horrific humanitarian nightmare, but a rapidly accelerated unraveling of the prospects for a sustainable resolution to this conflict," remarked Wennesland.

Last week, Israeli forces ordered Gaza's civil defense first responders out of the northern enclave, leaving no official personnel to conduct rescues or provide first aid. The closest hospital was raided and largely destroyed over the weekend by Israeli military actions, severely disrupting medical services, including the hospital's morgue.

In the aftermath of the airstrike, civilians were forced to take on rescue efforts themselves. Freelance photojournalist Islam Ahmed described the chaotic scene, detailing how neighbors tried to dig through rubble with their bare hands in desperate attempts to save lives. "These were not the hands of paramedics or well-trained people, it was the hands of us, the neighbors," Ahmed said.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called the incident "horrifying," confirming that the U.S. had reached out to Israel for an explanation.

The Israeli military escalation in Gaza began after a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 250 hostages, as per Israeli officials. Since then, over 43,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza.

Recent Israeli military efforts to target Hamas in northern Gaza have intensified international concern over the humanitarian situation. The Israeli parliament's recent legislation restricting UNRWA's operations could hinder essential aid work in Gaza, a move criticized by the U.N. and various humanitarian groups.

"This could potentially be a final knockout blow to the humanitarian response, certainly in Gaza," warned Kate Phillips-Barrasso of the charity Mercy Corps, underscoring the critical need for aid in the region.