At least 33 people were killed and 85 others injured following Israeli airstrikes that targeted homes in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza on Friday, according to medical sources.
The camp, one of Gaza’s largest refugee centers, was hit as Israeli tanks reportedly moved in, leading to the destruction of roads and residential buildings, according to residents.
The media office of the Hamas-controlled Gaza government warned that the death toll may rise, as more individuals are feared trapped under the rubble. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA confirmed that children were among the casualties.
Additionally, the Gaza health ministry reported further Israeli strikes that resulted in at least 39 Palestinian deaths across the territory, including 20 in Jabalia. However, Israel has not yet commented on the incident.
Residents of Jabalia reported that Israeli tanks have advanced into the camp after moving through surrounding suburbs, claiming that the Israeli army is destroying dozens of homes daily through airstrikes and ground operations, including remotely detonating explosives in buildings.
The Israeli military stated that its forces, active in Jabalia for two weeks, killed numerous militants during close-quarters combat on Thursday, conducted aerial strikes, and dismantled military infrastructure. On the same day, Israel announced the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, whom it accused of orchestrating the October 7 attack—the deadliest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to the Israeli military, the operation in Jabalia aims to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping for further attacks....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
Residents noted that Israeli forces have effectively cut off the northern Gaza towns of Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya from Gaza City, restricting movement following evacuation orders. They reported disruptions to communications and internet services, hampering rescue efforts.
Health officials called for urgent supplies of fuel, medical resources, and food for three overwhelmed hospitals in northern Gaza. At Kamal Adwan Hospital, medical staff indicated they had to prioritize critically injured adults over children in intensive care due to the influx of patients from airstrikes targeting a school sheltering displaced individuals in Jabalia on Thursday.
Kamal Adwan’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya, stated in a video shared with the media that children had been relocated within the hospital for continued care. He also highlighted the exhaustion of medical personnel and severe shortages of hospital supplies, including food.
Israel reported sending approximately 30 truckloads of aid into northern Gaza on Friday, which included food, water, medical supplies, and shelter equipment. Military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani emphasized, “We’re fighting Hamas, we’re not fighting the people of Gaza,” during an online briefing with journalists.
However, both Hamas and health officials contend that the aid has not reached the most affected areas, including isolated towns. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, stated on X that the recent attack on the school marked the third assault on an UNRWA facility that week and revealed that the agency had lost 231 staff members in the past year of conflict.
Northern Gaza, which was once home to over half of the territory’s 2.3 million residents, has been heavily bombed during the initial phase of Israel’s military campaign last year. The military operations commenced following the October 7 attacks by Hamas-led fighters, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and the capture of 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. According to Gaza’s health authorities, over 42,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s ongoing offensive.
