Israeli Airstrikes Devastate Gaza Neighborhood, Leaving Hundreds Dead and Wounded
On Tuesday afternoon, a series of Israeli airstrikes struck the Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, leaving at least 110 people dead and hundreds more injured, according to doctors at nearby hospitals. The attack is believed to be the deadliest aerial assault by Israel since the war began. However, the true toll is still unclear as victims are trapped under the rubble.
Kamal Masoud, a resident of the camp, recounted the horrifying experience. He and his family survived, but 30 of his relatives, including children as young as 2 months old, were among the dead. Masoud described the area as completely wiped out after the Israeli missiles hit.
Israel’s military claimed that the airstrikes targeted and killed a senior Hamas commander, Ibrahim Biari, who was involved in planning an attack on southern Israel. The military also alleged that other militants were killed alongside Biari but did not provide a specific number. Hamas spokesperson Ali Barakeh refuted these claims, stating that Biari was alive and not at the site of the attack.
The strike on Jabalya refugee camp highlighted the destruction caused by Israel’s relentless air war in Gaza. Satellite imagery analysis indicated that the damage covered an area roughly the size of a football field, involving the collapse and scarring of over a dozen buildings. The explosive impact appears to have blackened rooftops in multiple directions.
The Israeli military argued that the attack was necessary due to the way Hamas builds its infrastructure and the collapse of Hamas tunnels. They maintained that they were working within the boundaries of international law but were unable to provide an exact count of the civilians killed.
The bombings overwhelmed hospitals, which were already struggling to cope with the vastness of the destruction. Rescue teams faced difficulties in reaching the site due to shortages of fuel and equipment. Meanwhile, residents tried desperately to dig survivors out from the piles of rubble. Videos and photos depicted scenes resembling the aftermath of a natural disaster with collapsed buildings and bloodied bodies.
As the ground operations expanded, Palestinians were urged by Israel to leave the north and seek refuge in the south. However, many lacked the means to relocate and had nowhere to go in the south. Some who tried to evacuate were killed while fleeing, while others died in Israeli strikes in the supposed safe zone. Hospitals were also not always safe havens, as previous strikes had caused severe damage.
The communication blackout imposed by Israel further compounded the humanitarian crisis. Families were unable to reach their loved ones to ascertain their safety, leaving them in an agonizing state of uncertainty. Medical facilities struggled to operate due to fuel shortages and limited resources.
The airstrikes on the Jabalya refugee camp and the ongoing escalation of the conflict have once again demonstrated the dire situation facing civilians in Gaza. The death toll continues to rise, with no end in sight to the current violence.