In a turbulent escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict, an Israeli airstrike has led to the death of 50 people in a refugee camp, according to reports from Gaza's health ministry, which is overseen by Hamas. The director of Gaza's Indonesian Hospital relayed to Al Jazeera that the air assault on the densely populated region of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza resulted in over 150 wounded.
Witnesses on the ground described the devastation following the airstrike. Ragheb Aqal, a local resident, likened the strikes to "an earthquake," recounting the sight of "homes buried under the rubble and body parts and martyrs and wounded in large numbers." Video evidence from the scene depicted a harrowing aftermath, with multiple casualties, many being children.
The Israeli military has not yet provided a comment on the recent airstrike. However, the situation unfolds in the backdrop of an intensified ground campaign by Israel against Hamas in Gaza. The focus of this campaign has been the extensive tunnel network under Gaza, which Israel has pointed to as a strategic target in its mission. This initiative came in retaliation for an attack by Hamas into southern Israel on October 7, which Israel says took several hostages, and believes are held within these tunnels.
Hamas, in its official statements, asserts that its fighters have been heavily engaged in battles with Israeli ground forces. The militant group characterized Gaza as "the cemetery of invaders."
As the conflict continues to surge, international officials have expressed growing concern for civilians in the region. Hospitals in Gaza are said to be overwhelmed, grappling with the surge in casualties, while essentials like food, medicine, drinking water, and fuel are dwindling rapidly. Dr. Moaeen Al-Masri from the Indonesian Hospital highlighted the dire circumstances, stating that depletion of fuel would result in inevitable fatalities.
James Elder, a spokesperson for the U.N. children's agency, spotlighted the pressing risk to children in the region, noting issues from dehydration to consuming salt-contaminated water. A reported 940 children have gone missing in Gaza, with many suspected to be trapped beneath the rubble caused by recent airstrikes.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the dual importance of providing security assistance to Israel and humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. Blinken stressed, "Without swift and sustained humanitarian relief, the conflict is much more likely to spread, suffering will grow, and Hamas and its sponsors will benefit."
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has rebuffed calls to cease hostilities, indicating that Israel would continue its operations to counteract Hamas.
The wider implications of the conflict are also beginning to emerge. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have launched a series of ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israel. Meanwhile, international calls, including from the U.S., continue to advocate for a pause in hostilities to facilitate the entrance of more humanitarian aid into the region.
