An Israeli attack on Beit Lahiya, a town in northern Gaza, killed at least 73 Palestinians on Saturday evening, according to the enclave's government media office. More than 100 others were wounded and several people missing.

Israeli air strikes targeted a multi-floor building and damaged a number of nearby houses, medics in the Gaza Strip reported.

The attack shook the entire western part of the town, and buildings collapsed while people were inside, Al Jazeera reported. Residents were given no warnings to leave their homes.

The government media office said that Israeli forces had bombed overcrowded residential areas in Beit Lahiya, adding that women and children were amongst the casualties.