Young siblings are among six killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza, medics say

According to Palestinian medics, three young siblings, all under the age of six, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in the north of the Gaza Strip.

The children were among at least six victims of ongoing Israeli air strikes as fighting between Israel and Hamas continues.

In Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp, where Israel has expanded its operations, the attack targeted a house near a clinic. Emergency services confirmed that further attacks in Deir al-Balah and Nuseirat refugee camp resulted in additional victims, including a 15-year-old boy.

The Israeli military has said it only targets militant sites and tries to avoid harm to civilians, but the ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed thousands of lives, including women and children, according to health authorities. Israel attributes civilian casualties to Hamas tactics and says the group is hiding in residential areas.

On October 7 last year, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel's history, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Nearly 100 people remain captive, with fewer than 70 believed to be alive. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel then launched its military operation in Gaza, which has so far killed about 43,000 Palestinians. Local health authorities do not distinguish between civilians and fighters but say many of those killed were women and children.

The USA continues to supply weapons to Israel

The deadly airstrikes came as the Biden administration announced it would continue its arms support for Israel, citing some progress in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.

This decision follows criticism from eight international aid organizations who claim that Israel has not sufficiently expanded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip. Hunger experts have warned that famine is looming in northern Gaza, raising concerns about the long-term humanitarian impact.

As tensions rise, the US government's stance underscores its commitment to providing military support to Israel while monitoring the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The aid agencies' statements reflect ongoing calls for greater access to ease suffering in Gaza.

Six dead, 15 injured in Israeli attack south of Beirut

Meanwhile in Lebanon, a separate Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Aramoun, south of Beirut, killed at least six people and injured 15 others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The strike came without warning, and authorities report that the children initially remained missing, either trapped under the rubble or taken to medical facilities. The state one National News Agency provided further confirmation of the number of casualties as emergency crews combed through the rubble.

Targeted by Hezbollah websites

On the same day, Israel also carried out additional attacks against Hezbollah sites in the Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh.

Although the Israeli military has not made a specific statement about the apartment attack, it has continued an offensive against Hezbollah in solidarity with Hamas since the group launched rockets into Israel on October 8, 2023.

The fighting has escalated and heavy bombing is intended to push Hezbollah troops back from the border.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press