From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
US pressing Israel to explain ‘horrific’ Gaza strike that reportedly killed dozens of children
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
WASHINGTON — The US says it is “deeply concerned” by the loss of civilian life in the “horrifying” airstrike carried out by Israel in the north Gaza city of Beit Lahiya earlier today and has already reached out to Jerusalem to demand an explanation for the mass-casualty attack.
“There are reports of two dozen children killed in this incident — no doubt, a number of them are children who have been fleeing the effects of this war for more than a year now,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says during a press briefing.
The IDF issued a statement saying it is aware of reports that nearly 100 people were killed in an airstrike in Beit Lahiya and is looking into the matter. However, it warned that the casualty count from Hamas authorities may be inaccurate.
The Beit Lahiya area was given an evacuation order earlier this month, as the IDF launched a new offensive in northern Gaza. But many Palestinians have been unable to evacuate, fearing that they’ll come under attack from Israeli troops if they do or because they have faced threats from Hamas gunmen against heeding Israeli calls to flee. Tens of thousands have left, but several hundred thousand people are said to remain in northern Gaza.
Miller says the US hasn’t yet received an explanation from Israel for the Beit Lahiya strike.
The State Department spokesperson notes that over a year into the war, Israel has succeeded in decimating Hamas’s leadership and military capabilities so that the terror group can no longer carry out another October 7-like attack, but that “came at great cost to civilians in Gaza.”
“It is critically important… that Israel… find a way to end this campaign in a way that brings the hostages home and in a way that ensures their security, and not just continues endless perpetual conflict,” Miller says.
He clarifies that the US is not calling for Israel to unilaterally withdraw from Gaza in a manner that would leave a power vacuum, because doing so would allow Hamas to regain control over the Strip.
