Israeli strike on home in north Gaza kills 19 people, medics say

“According to an initial examination, the number of casualties resulting from the strike published in the media is inaccurate and does not align with the information held by the IDF,” it said. “The IDF is continuing to examine the incident.”

Israeli forces launched a major ground offensive in parts of northern Gaza on 6 October, saying it is stopping Hamas from regrouping there.

The UN said on Tuesday that Beit Lahia, as well as the nearby towns of Beit Hanoun and Jabalia, were under a tightened Israeli siege and that virtually no humanitarian aid had been delivered for 66 days.

That had left between 65,000 and 75,000 people estimated to be still inside the towns without access to food, water, electricity or healthcare, it added.

Attacks on hospitals in northern Gaza, which are barely functioning amid severe supply shortages, also continue to be reported.

The UN said the hospital was attacked by fire, bombs and shells on four occasions between 3 December and Saturday, resulting in the killing of seven people, including four medics and a child, and the injuring of at least three medical staff as well as patients and their companions.

The head of the World Health Organization said such attacks were “unacceptable and are depriving people in northern Gaza of the already minimal health services they had left”.

The IDF said on Sunday that it had conducted a review and found that its forces had not struck in the vicinity of the hospital or damaged any of its essential equipment.