Israeli forces clashed with Hamas fighters in the narrow alleyways of Jabalia in northern Gaza, marking some of the most intense engagements since their return to the area a week ago. Meanwhile, militants attacked Israeli tanks massing around Rafah in the south.
Residents reported that Israeli armour had advanced to the heart of Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza, with bulldozers demolishing homes and shops in the path of the advance. Ayman Rajab, a resident, described the scene: “Tanks and planes are wiping out residential districts and markets, shops, restaurants, everything. It is all happening before the one-eyed world.”
Israel had previously cleared Jabalia months earlier but returned last week to prevent Hamas from regrouping. The southern end of Gaza, around Rafah, has seen an escalating Israeli assault, prompting hundreds of thousands to flee.
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The United Nations expressed concern, with spokesperson Jens Laerke saying, “People are terrified and trying to get away.” The UN is finalizing plans to distribute aid, emphasizing that land convoys are the most efficient way to reach those in need.
The Israeli Defense Forces claimed to have killed over 60 militants and located a weapons warehouse near a shelter complex in Jabalia. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian concerns, with at least 35,303 Palestinians killed and warnings of widespread hunger and disease.
Doctors are struggling to provide medical care, including surgery, without anaesthesia or painkillers due to the collapse of the medical system. Israel aims to destroy Hamas to ensure its safety and free the 128 hostages still held by the militants.
The conflict has been described as a “tragic war” by Israeli Justice Ministry official Gilad Noam, who defended the operation as self-defence and not aimed at civilians. However, the South African legal team has accused Israel of violating the Genocide Convention and framed the military operation as part of a genocidal plan aimed at destroying the Palestinian people.
