Strikes kill over 40 in Lebanon, Gaza

Israeli strikes killed dozens of people including children on Sunday in Lebanon and northern Gaza, where the military has waged a major offensive for more than a month that aid groups say has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.

The Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killed at least 23 people including seven children in Aalmat village north of Beirut, far from the areas in the east and south where Hezbollah militants have a major presence. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said another six people were wounded. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

In northern Gaza, an Israeli strike on a home sheltering displaced people in the urban refugee camp of Jabaliya killed at least 17 people including nine women, according to Dr Fadel Naim, director of Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza City.

A separate strike hit a house in Gaza City, killing Wael al-Khour, a minister in the Hamas-run government, as well as his wife and three children, according to the Civil Defence, first responders who operate under the government.

Israel has struck deeper inside Lebanon since September, when it killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as well as most of his top commanders. Hezbollah has expanded its rocket fire from northern to central Israel. The fighting has killed over 3,000 people in Lebanon.