Israeil, Oct 20 (V7N) – An Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza reportedly killed at least 73 people late Saturday, with many still feared trapped beneath the debris, according to local sources. Israel has confirmed that the attack targeted what it described as a "Hamas terror site."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran-backed Hezbollah attempted to assassinate him with a drone strike aimed at his residence in Caesarea. Fortunately, neither Netanyahu nor his wife were at home at the time, and no injuries were reported.

In a statement, Netanyahu condemned the assassination attempt by Hezbollah, calling it a "serious mistake" and warning that anyone attempting to harm Israeli citizens would face severe consequences. He specifically directed these warnings towards Iran and its affiliated groups, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, with whom Israel has been engaged in conflict since late September.

While Hezbollah has not officially taken responsibility for the attack, Iran’s mission to the United Nations implied that the action was indeed taken by Hezbollah.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that a drone had struck a building in Caesarea, around 20 kilometers south of Haifa, a region frequently targeted by Hezbollah.

As the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon continues, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced plans for a "precise and deadly" response to Iran's missile attacks on October 1, which followed the killing of an Iranian general and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Iran claimed to have launched 200 missiles at Israel in retaliation.

In Gaza, the civil defense agency reported that over 400 people have been killed in Israeli operations over the last two weeks. On Saturday, another airstrike in Beit Lahia claimed at least 73 lives, with many more still buried beneath the rubble.

Hezbollah has vowed to intensify attacks against Israel, launching rocket barrages on Saturday that killed a civilian in northern Israel. Israeli forces, engaged on both northern and southern fronts, are also confronting Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas, following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

UN officials, including acting humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya, expressed grave concern over the deteriorating conditions in northern Gaza, describing the situation as "unspeakable horrors."

Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon have resulted in heavy casualties, with over 42,000 deaths reported in Gaza and over 1,400 in Lebanon, as hostilities show no signs of de-escalating.

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