An Israeli airstrike on a mosque in the Gaza Strip early Sunday killed at least 19 people, Palestinian health officials said, as Israel ramped up its bombardment of both northern Gaza and southern Beirut, signaling an escalation in the widening regional conflict.
The strike targeted a mosque near the main hospital in Deir al-Balah, where displaced Palestinians had sought shelter. Hospital records showed all victims were men. In a separate incident, four more people died when a school housing refugees was hit.
“These strikes hit the very places people thought were safe,” said Dr. Adnan Hammad, director of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for civilians to find refuge.”
The Israeli military claimed both strikes targeted militants but provided no evidence to support this assertion.
As Gaza reeled from the latest attacks, Israel launched a new offensive in the northern Jabaliya refugee camp, dropping leaflets urging complete evacuation. “We are in a new phase of the war,” the leaflets warned residents.
Simultaneously, Israel intensified its bombardment of southern Beirut, with Lebanon’s National News Agency reporting over 30 strikes overnight on alleged Hezbollah targets. The assault, the heaviest since late September, struck a gas station near Beirut’s airport and a medical supplies warehouse.
“This escalation on multiple fronts raises serious concerns about a broader regional conflict,” said Middle East analyst Dr. Sarah Kaplan. “The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, while tensions with Hezbollah threaten to open a new front.”
The Gaza Health Ministry reports nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began last October, with over half being women and children. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, creating a dire humanitarian crisis.
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