Israeli strike hits house in Beit Lahiya
(12 May 2023) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ++CLIENTS: RESENDING EDIT TO IMPROVE AUDIO++ ASSOCIATED PRESS Beit Lahiya , northern Gaza Strip - 12 May 2023 1. Various of explosions with fire balls after Israeli airstrikes hit house in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip, dust in rising air 2. Various of people gathering near scene, crater in ground, debris 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmad Taha, owner of house that was bombed: "After the noon prayer, they called me and asked me to leave the house and alert the neighbors. They called from a private number and said they will fire a warning missile, which happened. Five minutes later, the warplanes struck as you can see." 4. People gathering near destroyed house STORYLINE: As cross-border fighting between Israel and Gaza-based Palestinian militants entered a fourth day, the Israeli military has built up pressure on Gaza by destroying houses. Five houses have been destroyed so far in airstrikes that followed warnings the Israeli military issued to residents. However, 13 Palestinians, including three leaders of the Islamic Jihad militant group, some of their wives, children, and neighbor were killed in sudden airstrikes that set off this round of fighting early on Tuesday. The Israeli military says the aerial raids are directed at houses used by the Islamic Jihad as command centers to orchestrate rocket attacks, or houses for militants within the Iranian-backed group. In Beit Lahiya, Israeli airplanes struck a house for Taha family, engulfing the area with smoke and dust. Its owner, Ahmed Taha, denied Israeli claims that the house was used by Palestinian militant groups. "After the noon prayer, they called me and asked me to leave the house and alert the neighbors," he said. The Ministry of Public Work and Housing in Gaza reported that 47 housing units sustained major damage, with 19 completely destroyed. The three days of fighting between Israel and Islamic Jihad militants have killed 31 Palestinians, including 13 civilians, according to the U.N. Islamic Jihad has fired hundreds of rockets while Israeli warplanes have pounded militant infrastructure in the blockaded enclave. =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected]. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
