The intensification of Israeli military operations in northern Gaza has escalated dramatically, with ground forces advancing into Gaza City’s outskirts and airstrikes pounding densely populated neighbourhoods. Residents in the Sheikh Radwan area have reported heavy bombardment by Israeli tanks, forcing families to flee their homes amidst the chaos. The Israeli military’s push into northern Gaza is part of a broader campaign against Hamas, as Israel aims to dismantle what it describes as militant infrastructure in these heavily populated areas.
Tragically, the conflict continues to inflict devastating human costs. An Israeli airstrike hit tents housing displaced Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, resulting in three deaths and injuring 40 others. Footage of the incident circulated online, showing tents ablaze, as helpless civilians attempted to extinguish the fire. Israeli authorities claimed the target was a Hamas command center operating within the hospital compound, accusations that Hamas has denied, further underscoring the deadly toll on civilians trapped in the ongoing conflict.
In addition to the airstrikes, Israeli forces have isolated key towns in the north, including Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya, effectively cutting them off from Gaza City. Evacuations have been hindered as Israeli forces control access between these areas. Hamas-run Gaza government officials claim that the bombardment is aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians, a charge that Israel denies, stating their goal is to eliminate Hamas fighters hiding among civilians.
In a further escalation, an Israeli tank shelling targeted a school in Nuseirat camp, killing at least 22 Palestinians, including women and children. The school was serving as a shelter for displaced families, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp, five children were killed by an airstrike while playing near a café, highlighting the pervasive danger faced by civilians, particularly children, in this conflict.
The ongoing assault has drawn sharp condemnation from international officials. U.N. aid chief Joyce Msuya voiced her alarm, describing the situation as “terrifying beyond words.” She emphasized the dire conditions in Gaza, with hospitals being forced to evacuate patients and basic supplies such as food, water, and medicine running out. Msuya called for an immediate end to the atrocities and urged international humanitarian law to be respected.
Amid mounting international pressure, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris urged Israel to expedite the flow of aid to Gaza, citing U.N. reports that northern Gaza has been cut off from essential supplies for nearly two weeks. Harris stressed the need to protect civilians and ensure they have access to life-saving resources. Her remarks come as part of a broader call for Israel to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe while conducting its military operations.
Despite the devastation in northern Gaza, Israeli forces continue their broader campaign across the Gaza Strip, with the health ministry reporting additional casualties. Residents in the north, particularly in Jabalia, have taken to social media to declare their refusal to flee despite the ongoing bombardments, stating, “We will not leave, we die, and we don’t leave.”
The latest military escalation follows a year of intense Israeli assaults on Gaza, which began after the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli towns. The attacks killed 1,200 Israelis and led to the capture of 250 hostages. Since then, over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, and despite the destruction, hundreds of thousands of residents have returned to their homes in northern Gaza.
Complicating the situation further, Israel is simultaneously engaged in a significant military campaign against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, another Iran-backed militant group allied with Hamas. This dual-front assault raises concerns of a broader regional conflict, as tensions escalate between Israel and Iranian-backed factions across the Middle East.
Israeli forces maintain they are targeting militant strongholds and continue to operate across Gaza. The Israeli military claimed to have killed dozens of militants in the Jabalia region in recent days, while uncovering caches of explosives and weapons. However, the human toll on civilians remains staggering, with Palestinian and U.N. officials warning that there are no safe areas left in Gaza, as food, fuel, and medical supplies dwindle, and the risk of famine looms.
