Israeli airstrikes destroyed a refugee camp near Gaza City on Tuesday, while ground troops battled Hamas militants in northern Gaza and attacked underground compounds, according to The Telegraph.
After successfully rescuing a hostage, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire and again vowed to crush Hamas after its October 7 surprise attack. Tanks advanced on several sides of Gaza City, the vast urban centre.
Israel carried out at least six airstrikes that destroyed several apartment blocks in a residential area where the Jabaliya refugee camp was located, the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry reported.
Al-Jazeera TV channel provided footage showing at least four large craters on the site of the once-standing buildings. Dozens of rescuers and passers-by were digging through the debris in search of survivors buried beneath the collapsed buildings. A group of young people pulled two children from the upper floors of a damaged apartment block.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli attacks have killed 8,525 people, including 3,542 children, since October 7. UN officials claim that more than 1.4 million of Gaza’s civilian population of about 2.3 million people have been left homeless.
On October 7, Hamas announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel. The group’s militants then infiltrated into Israel and started launching rockets from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel launched Operation Iron Sword, carrying out a total siege of the Gaza Strip and conducting aerial strikes.
