By Nidal al-Mughrabi
CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli forces widened their raid into northern Gaza and tanks reached the north fringe of Gaza Metropolis, pounding some districts of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood and forcing many households to go away their houses, residents mentioned.
Within the early hours of Monday, an Israeli air strike killed three folks and wounded 40 others when it hit some tents of displaced Palestinians inside Al-Aqsa Hospital within the central Gaza Strip metropolis of Deir Al-Balah, the place one million folks had been sheltering, medics mentioned.
Footage circulated on social media, which Reuters could not instantly confirm, confirmed a number of tents had been set ablaze as some Palestinians tried helplessly to place out the fireplace.
The Israeli army mentioned it struck militants working from a command heart contained in the compound, accusing Hamas of utilizing civilian amenities equivalent to hospitals for army functions, which Hamas denies.
Residents mentioned Israeli forces had successfully remoted Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya within the far north of the enclave from Gaza Metropolis, blocking entry between the 2 areas besides upon permission for households keen to heed evacuation orders and go away the three cities.
9 days into a significant Israeli operation in northern Gaza, the Hamas-run Gaza authorities media workplace mentioned Israeli strikes had killed round 300 Palestinians there. It mentioned Israel’s bombardment of civilian homes and displacement shelters was meant to pressure residents to go away Gaza as soon as and for all, which Israel denies.
In a while Sunday, Israeli tank shelling killed not less than 22 Palestinians at a faculty sheltering displaced households in Nuseirat camp within the central Gaza Strip, medics mentioned.
The Hamas-run Gaza authorities media workplace mentioned not less than 15 kids and girls had been amongst these killed within the faculty. It added that 80 different folks had been wounded.
Hours earlier an Israeli airstrike killed 5 kids in The Shati refugee camp in Gaza Metropolis. The Palestinian official information company WAFA and Hamas media mentioned the youngsters had been enjoying close to a restaurant once they had been killed by a missile fired from an Israeli drone.
The Israeli army didn’t instantly touch upon the 2 stories.
“What’s happening in northern Gaza is terrifying beyond words,” performing U.N. support chief Joyce Msuya mentioned in a put up on social media platform X.
“Attacks by Israeli forces are intensifying. Hospitals are forced to evacuate their patients. Essential supplies running out. People forcibly displaced, cut off from aid, left to starve. The atrocities must end,” she mentioned.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, citing U.N. stories that no meals has entered northern Gaza in practically two weeks, mentioned on X: “Israel must urgently do more to facilitate the flow of aid to those in need.”
“Civilians must be protected and must have access to food, water, and medicine. International humanitarian law must be respected,” mentioned Harris, the Democratic occasion’s nominee in subsequent month’s presidential election.
Whereas the principle assault is on the north, Israel can also be putting different areas throughout the Gaza Strip. The well being ministry reported not less than 34 folks killed up to now on Sunday.
Many Jabalia residents posted on social media platforms: “We will not leave, we die, and we don’t leave.”
The northern a part of Gaza, house to effectively over half the territory’s 2.3 million folks, was bombed to rubble within the first section of Israel’s assault on the territory a 12 months in the past, after the Oct. 7 assaults on Israeli cities by militants who killed 1,200 folks and captured 250 hostages.
After a 12 months of Israeli assaults that killed 42,000 Palestinians, tons of of 1000’s of residents have come again to ruined northern areas. Israel despatched troops again greater than per week in the past to root out fighters it mentioned had been regrouping for extra assaults. Hamas denies fighters function amongst civilians.
The escalation in northern Gaza has taken place alongside an enormous Israeli air assault and floor marketing campaign on a separate entrance in southern Lebanon towards Hezbollah, which like Hamas is an ally of Iran.
“As the world is focused on Lebanon and possible Israeli strike against Iran, Israel is wiping out Jabalia,” mentioned Nasser, a resident of Beit Lahiya within the northern Gaza Strip.
“The occupation is blowing up roads and destroying residential districts. People also don’t find anything to eat, they are trapped inside their homes, fearing bombs could fall onto their heads,” he advised Reuters through a chat app.
The Israeli army mentioned in an announcement on Sunday that forces working all through the Gaza Strip up to now 24 hours had attacked about 40 targets and killed dozens of militants.
“The forces of Division 162 continue to operate in the Jabalia region, in the last day the forces killed dozens of terrorists and found explosives, weapons, grenades and other means of warfare in the region,” it mentioned.
The armed wings of Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and smaller different factions mentioned their fighters attacked Israeli forces in Jabalia and close by areas with anti-tank rockets and mortar hearth.
Palestinian and United Nations officers say there are not any secure areas in Gaza. They’ve additionally voiced considerations over extreme shortages of meals, gasoline, and medical provides in northern Gaza, and mentioned there’s a danger of famine there.
(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-MughrabiEditing by Peter Graff, Chris Reese and Diane Craft)