The Israeli military has launched a heavy bombardment on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, killing at least 17 people hours after forcing residents to flee. This is the third ground attack on the densely crowded camp since the war began a year ago.
On Sunday, the Palestinian Civil Defence service reported that nine children had died as a result of air raids and the army’s first deployment of tanks into the area in months.
Mahmoud Basal, the Palestinian Civil Defence spokesperson in Gaza, claimed that Jabalia was struck many times overnight, resulting in many injuries. Residents in Jabalia have described the recent attacks as some of the most severe in months.
“Air raids and tank firing caused dozens of explosions, shaking the ground and structures. “It felt like the early days of the war,” Raed, 52, of Jabalia, told Reuters before his family departed for Gaza City on Sunday.
On Sunday morning, the Israeli military announced that its forces had “successfully” surrounded the refugee camp and were working in the region.
The army said the decision was taken after intelligence indicated the “presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area of Jabalia … as well as efforts by Hamas to rebuild its operational capabilities in the area”
Israel has destroyed hospitals, schools, and residential areas, saying Hamas was operating from them but offering no evidence. According to human rights organisations, these attacks constitute war crimes.
Meanwhile, the armed branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad has alleged its fighters have struck “a command and control room” belonging to Israeli forces who were attempting to enter the Jabalia refugee camp.