Tragic Strike in Northern Gaza
On Sunday, Israel’s military launched a devastating attack on a house in northern Gaza, where numerous displaced families had sought refuge. This strike resulted in the loss of at least 34 lives, as reported by the Palestinian Civil Defense, the primary emergency response organization in the region. According to Dr. Mohammed Al Moghayer, a spokesperson for the group, the casualties included 14 children. Following the assault in Jabaliya during the early morning hours, many individuals remained trapped beneath the rubble, prompting fears that the death toll could continue to escalate.
The Palestinian Authority’s news agency, Wafa, detailed that the targeted house was “overcrowded with residents and displaced individuals,” ultimately leading to its destruction. A significant number of injured victims were transported to the nearby Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City for urgent medical care.
When questioned about the airstrike, Israel’s military asserted that it had targeted “a terrorist infrastructure site” in Jabaliya, claiming that militants posing a threat to their forces had been operating from this location. The military stated that it had taken “numerous steps to mitigate the risk of harming civilians” during the operation. However, they did not provide any evidence to substantiate these claims, noting that detailed investigations into the incident were still ongoing.
Jabaliya has faced relentless attacks as the Israeli military has intensified its offensive in northern Gaza over the past month, asserting that its objective is to dismantle a regrouped Hamas presence in the area. In light of the escalating violence, the Israeli military has issued extensive evacuation orders for various regions in northern Gaza. Consequently, Israeli troops, tanks, and armed drones have been engaged in near-daily bombardments.
In a related incident, a separate strike on a residential building in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of five Palestinians, according to a statement from the Palestinian Civil Defense. The organization indicated that searches for individuals trapped under the debris were ongoing.
However, the emergency service also reported that their teams were “forcibly disabled” from conducting operations across all areas of northern Gaza due to the “ongoing targeting and Israeli aggression,” leaving thousands of residents without access to essential humanitarian and medical assistance.
