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Death Toll Rises as Israel, Hezbollah Trade Blows in Escalating Conflict
The on-going conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed extremist group, Hezbollah, has taken a devastating toll on the region. Sunday’s deadly strikes have left at least 73 Palestinians dead in Gaza, while further deaths and destruction have been reported in Lebanon.
In Gaza, rescuers say an Israeli air strike on a residential area in Beit Lahia resulted in one of the deadliest single attacks of the conflict, claiming the lives of 73 people and leaving many more wounded. The Gaza civil defence agency confirmed the death toll, while Kamal Adwan Hospital was overwhelmed with the injured, with patients being treated on the floor.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him by targeting his residence. The accusations led to Israel targeting a Hezbollah "command centre" in south Beirut, with further strikes reported across Lebanon.
Reports from Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) say Israeli strikes have targeted residential buildings in Beirut and southern Lebanon, including a centre for rescue workers affiliated with Hezbollah. Hezbollah has responded with rocket barrages aimed at Israeli targets, including the city of Haifa.
According to Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the military is stepping up its strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, "destroying them in places that Hezbollah planned to use as launchpads for attacks against Israel".
Sunday’s strikes came as Israelis marked the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Lebanon’s army, which is not fighting in the war, reported three soldiers killed in an Israeli strike on their vehicle.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has condemned the strike in Gaza, saying Israeli actions in the territory are "a stain on the conscience of humanity".
At Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, relatives of the victims gathered to grieve, with many patients still without access to proper medical care. One Gaza resident described the desperate situation, saying: "The situation gets worse every day and we are terrified, wondering when our turn will come."
With tensions escalating on multiple fronts, international pressure mounts on Israel to address humanitarian concerns in Gaza, after Washington warned it could withhold billions of dollars in military aid unless aid deliveries to the territory are improved.
Stay with Media Talk Africa for up-to-date coverage of this developing story.
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