In the latest round of Israeli attacks on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, at least 90 people have been killed and over 100 injured. The strikes, which targeted a residential block belonging to the al-Barsh and Alwan families, resulted in the death of women and children, with dozens still missing.
The first responders and locals are currently engaged in search and rescue operations, attempting to locate the wounded and recover more bodies believed to be under the rubble. However, the intensity of the Israeli fire has made the task challenging. Many of the injured, including children, have been rushed to nearby medical centers, which are already overwhelmed with patients.
Tragically, among the deceased is the son of Dawoud Shehab, the spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. The number of casualties is expected to rise as efforts to remove the rubble continue.
Medics in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah reported that at least 12 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in the attacks. In Rafah, in the south, an Israeli air attack on a house claimed the lives of at least four people. Since October 7, approximately 19,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza, while Israel claims 1,147 people were killed on its territory that day.
Adding to the dire situation, Israel has escalated its artillery shelling in southern Gaza, targeting the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah, where the majority of displaced Palestinians have sought shelter. The intensified bombardments have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with starving individuals resorting to desperate measures to secure food and water, even seizing them from aid trucks.
Although Israel has announced the reopening of the Karem Abu Salem Crossing in the east, it remains unclear whether supplies have successfully reached Gaza. The United Nations estimates that about 1.9 million people, or 80 percent of Gaza’s population, have been displaced by the ongoing conflict. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), expressed concerns about the potential for hunger, disease, and weakened immunity leading to further loss of life.
The situation in Gaza remains deeply troubling, with innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. As the international community continues to grapple with finding a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urgent attention and action are required to address the immediate needs of those affected and bring about a lasting peace in the region.
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