Nearly 100 people, most of them women and children, were killed yesterday in the Israeli shelling of a five-story, family apartment building in Beit Lahia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, while several are still buried under the debris.

The USA – Israel’s main supporter at the military and political level – condemned it “horrific” blow. They characteristically stated that they “got in touch” with their ally to claim responsibility after this “horrific” bombing with a “horrific result”.

“The property collapsed in the middle of the night” while the tenants were “sleeping,” said neighbor Rabi al-Sadagli, 30.

“In their majority, the victims are women and children. People are trying to save the injured, but there is no hospital and no proper medical care can be provided.”

In the absence of stretchers, bloodied bodies being pulled from the huge pile of rubble and concrete were carried on blankets, an AFP photojournalist found.

On his part, Mr Israeli army – who has been conducting a new operation in northern Gaza since October 6, centered on Jabalia – limited himself to announcing that examines “event information” in Beit Lahia.

In addition, he announced that he killed “about 40 terrorists” in Jabalia and suffered four casualties in his ranks.

Appeal from the international community for UNRWA

A few months after the Israeli government accused employees of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, of being involved in the October 7 attack, the parliament, the Knesset, passed a law yesterday Monday banning all of its activities in Israel.

Israel strictly controls all humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, which is vital for the enclave’s 2.4 million residents, who are at risk of starvation, according to the UN.

A second text prohibits Israeli public officials from any cooperation with UNRWA and its workers, which will further complicate the agency’s work.

While the besieged Gaza Strip is faced with a humanitarian catastrophe, the adoption by the Israeli parliament yesterday of a law banning all UNRWA activities has caused international outcry.

The international community does appeal to Israel to allow UN service UNRWAto continue its humanitarian action in the Gaza Strip, offering even a little help and relief to the war-torn residents.

Many European capitals strongly criticized the ban, while the State Department reiterated its opposition to the law.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he feared the “disastrous consequences” its implementation would have on the Palestinians in a letter he addressed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hoping the disputed legislation would not be implemented.