The Israeli military raised doubted on Sunday about the high casualty numbers reported following an airstrike on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza.
According to reports from Gaza’s civil defense, the airstrike, which took place early Sunday, resulted in the deaths of at least 73 people.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an initial review, suggesting that the figures released by Hamas-run media in Gaza were significantly inflated. The IDF’s assessment indicated that the reported casualties did not match their data, which included information about the precision-guided munitions used and the accuracy of the strike targeting a specific Hamas location.
The IDF stated that its operations are carefully conducted with the intention of minimizing civilian casualties. It emphasized that efforts are made to avoid harm to non-combatants during military actions.
The airstrike on Beit Lahia is part of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas, which have seen intensified conflict since the onset of the war on October 7, 2023.