At least 73 dead in new Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Gaza's civil defense announced today that an Israeli airstrike on a residential area killed at least 73 Palestinians in Beit Lahia, in the northern territory, and it is feared that many more are trapped under the rubble. Meanwhile, Israel claimed it had struck 'a Hamas terrorist target'.

'Our civil defense teams recovered 73 martyrs and a large number of injured as a result of the Israeli air force attack on a residential area (...) of Beit Lahia,' said Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the agency. 'There are still martyrs under the rubble,' added Bassal.

The press office of the Gaza government, under Hamas control, confirmed the death toll and stated that it includes women and children. It emphasized that the attack was on a 'densely populated residential area'.

However, the Israeli army stated that the death toll 'does not match the information in the hands of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces)', given the precision of the munitions used in the 'attack on a Hamas terrorist target'.