A series of Israeli airstrikes led to the destruction of apartment buildings in a refugee camp near Gaza City, on Tuesday. The attack was aimed at a high-ranking Hamas military leader, resulting in the obliteration of a militant command center and an extensive underground tunnel network. The exact number of casualties from the Jabaliya camp attack remains unknown, but Dr. Atef Al-Kahlot, director of a nearby hospital, reported hundreds of casualties.
Israel’s Defense
Israel has staunchly defended the attack, asserting that the targeted commander was instrumental in planning the Oct. 7 onslaught that initiated the war. They argue that the collapse of the apartment buildings was a direct result of the destruction of the expansive underground Hamas complex.
The strike underscores the expected increase in casualties on both sides as Israeli forces push further into northern Gaza. Israel has pledged to dismantle Hamas’ ability to govern Gaza and pose a threat to Israel following the Oct. 7 attack.a
Israel’s Military Strategy
The Israeli military reported carrying out an extensive strike on Hamas infrastructure in Jabaliya, which had infiltrated civilian buildings. Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari revealed that an underground Hamas facility beneath a targeted building collapsed, causing nearby buildings to topple. On Tuesday, it was reported that Israeli ground troops seized control of a Hamas military stronghold in west Jabaliya, resulting in 50 militant deaths.
The Plight of Civilians
The civilian plight is awful as several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in northern Gaza, directly in the path of the ground assault. They are crammed into homes or hospitals already overflowing with patients and dwindling supplies. In the Jabaliya refugee camp, rescue teams are tirelessly searching for survivors among destroyed and partially collapsed buildings.
Casualties and Rescue
The ongoing conflict has forced approximately 800,000 Palestinians to flee south. However, many remain as Israeli airstrikes persistently cause civilian casualties. The war has led to over 8,500 Palestinian deaths, mainly women and children, and over 1,400 Israeli deaths, predominantly civilians – figures unparalleled in the history of Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge in U.N.-run schools and hospitals after fleeing their homes. Around 200,000 people have been evacuated from Israeli towns near Gaza and the northern border with Lebanon. In other developments, Israel’s military intercepted a drone and a missile near Eilat city on Tuesday.
Following the successful rescue of a Hamas captive by Israel, Hamas plans to release some non-Israeli hostages in the coming days.