In northern Gaza, Israeli forces have intensified their operations around the enclave of Jabalia, tragically resulting in the loss of at least ten lives as food-seekers stood in line, according to reports from Palestinian medical personnel. Moreover, the military has issued evacuation orders while advancing against Hamas combatants.
For nearly ten days, Jabalia has been under heavy Israeli bombardment. The military has encircled the camp, deploying tanks into adjacent towns like Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun with the overt goal of eradicating Hamas fighters attempting to reorganize in the area.
As the conflict rages on, the residents of Jabalia—home to one of Gaza’s historic refugee camps—find themselves in a perilous situation, caught between Israeli directives urging them to move south and Hamas’s insistence that evacuation is too perilous.
Marwa, a 26-year-old who recently fled to a school in Gaza City with her family, expressed her despair: “We’ve been relentlessly bombarded from the air and ground for a week now. They want us to leave, and it’s as if we’re being punished for refusing to abandon our homes.”
According to the United Nations human rights office, the Israeli military’s actions seem to be effectively severing northern Gaza from the rest of the territory.
The statement raised alarms about the implications of this separation, suggesting that Israel does not intend to allow civilians to return home. It pointed out that ongoing calls for all Palestinians to vacate northern Gaza could lead to large-scale, forced population transfers.
In response, Israeli officials contended that the evacuation orders aim to separate Hamas fighters from civilians and categorically denied any plans to forcibly remove civilians from Jabalia or its surrounding areas.
Yet, the military operation highlights the untenable reality Gaza’s civilian population faces, as skirmishes shift unpredictably across the region.
Palestinian medics reported that tank shelling resulted in ten fatalities and injured over 40 individuals, including women and children. The Israeli military stated that they are currently reviewing the circumstances of that incident.
In their defense, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) noted, “We direct our strikes against terror targets and operatives exclusively, ensuring civilians and civilian sites remain safeguarded.”
The aftermath of an Israeli strike on the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al Balah underscores the grim situation. The United Nations has released reports detailing the dire conditions plaguing those remaining in Jabalia, where over 50,000 people are now displaced, and essential facilities such as water wells, bakeries, medical centers, and shelters have been shuttered.
Approximately 400,000 souls remain in northern Gaza, which hosts more than half of the territory’s 2.3 million residents. This area bore the brunt of Israel’s onslaught during the initial stages, pushing countless residents to flee their homes following urgent evacuation orders.
In the wake of these tumultuous circumstances, Hamas has accused Israel of deliberately seeking to displace the northern Gazan populace by force. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri lamented, “The international community must take action against this war crime.”
Concerns regarding Israel’s intentions to evacuate northern Gaza have been heightened by proposals from former Israeli military generals suggesting the area should be cleared of civilians while remaining militants are besieged until they surrender. The Israeli military has dismissed these concepts as unfounded.
Military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told reporters, “We don’t have such a plan in place. Our priority is ensuring civilians are safe as we engage with terror cells in Jabalia.”
Giora Eiland, the principal architect of the controversial proposal, explained his strategy aims to pressure Hamas to release hostages by undermining its territorial and aid control rather than directly engaging its fighters.
Referring to the ongoing situation, Mr. Eiland remarked to Army Radio, “What they’re doing in Jabalia right now is merely the same old routine. My plan hasn’t seen the light of day yet.”
Looking ahead, Israel’s objectives for Gaza remain nebulous, save for its declared intent to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and governance while also rescuing its captives.
This escalation follows Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and the abduction of approximately 250 others into Gaza, based on Israeli figures. In the brutal offensive that has unfolded since, Gaza’s health authorities report that over 42,000 Palestinians have tragically lost their lives.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
