118 rescuers killed since Oct. 7 as Israeli strike kills 10 firefighters in Baraachit

An Israeli strike that targeted a local firefighting center in Baraachit overnight killed ten firefighters, bringing to 118 the number of rescuers killed in a year, with more than 50 killed by Israeli fire in just a week.

The health ministry said more people were buried under the rubble and the death toll may rise.

The ministry said the firefighters were in a municipality building in the town of Baraachit that was hit as they prepared to embark on a rescue mission.

On Friday, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the international community to pressure Israel "to allow rescue and relief teams to reach bombed sites and allow them to move" casualties, with several dozen emergency personnel killed in recent days.