### Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Kills at Least 20, Mainly Women and Children

An airstrike by Israeli forces in northern Gaza late Monday resulted in the deaths of at least 20 individuals, the majority of whom were women and children, Palestinian authorities reported on Tuesday. The strike targeted a house in Beit Lahiya, a town near the Israeli border, which had been providing shelter to several displaced families. Hossam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, which is struggling to operate after a recent raid, confirmed the fatalities, which included eight women and six children.

Separate Israeli strikes across Gaza on Tuesday morning claimed an additional 10 lives, according to health officials. Israel has yet to comment on the incident. The present conflict, which has persisted for nearly a month, was ignited after Israel accused Hamas militants of regrouping in the north. The fighting has led Israeli forces to demand the full evacuation of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and the Jabaliya refugee camp, while humanitarian aid has been severely restricted.

The ongoing hostilities have prompted severe displacement, with tens of thousands fleeing to Gaza City, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in an already beleaguered region. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that approximately 90% of the 2.3 million residents have been forced to move, often repeatedly, amidst the ongoing war.

Further complicating the situation, access to medical facilities has been drastically reduced, with ambulances ceasing operations and hospitals becoming largely inaccessible due to the conflict. Israeli forces previously raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, claiming that it harbored Hamas militants, a charge refuted by Palestinian health officials.

There are growing concerns among Palestinians that Israel might be implementing a strategy to force out northern Gaza civilians and cut off aid, a plan purportedly proposed by former generals. While the Israeli military denies receiving such directives, the government has remained noncommittal regarding its stance on the plan.

Additional Israeli strikes early Tuesday brought further casualties. In Gaza City’s Tufah neighborhood, a strike killed two children and their parents, leaving two other children injured. In the central town of Zuweida, an airstrike on a tent killed a mother and her two children, along with another adult. In Deir al-Balah, two more fatalities occurred following a separate strike.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants conducted an assault on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and the capture of 250 hostages. Current estimates from Gaza's Health Ministry report over 43,000 Palestinian deaths due to Israeli retaliation, with more than half being women and children.