Devastating Israeli Ground Offensive in Gaza Kills Nearly 100
Tragedy in North Gaza: Nearly 100 Dead in Israeli Ground Attack
A large-scale Israeli ground, air, and sea attack on north Gaza early Friday has claimed the lives of nearly 100 people, including children, according to Hamas-run civil defence and local residents. The Israeli military claims it is targeting terrorist infrastructure sites and has eliminated several terrorists over the past day.
Witnesses Describe Scenes of Chaos and Devastation
Basheer al-Ghandour, who fled Beit Lahia for Jabalia after the attack, told the BBC of the terrifying experience: ‘It came from all sides – air strikes and warships. My brother’s house collapsed. There were 25 people inside.’ He described a heart-wrenching scene of rescue efforts hampered by the intensity of the bombing. ‘My brother’s wife is still under the rubble – we didn’t manage to rescue her,’ he said.
Another survivor, Yousif Salem, shared his harrowing escape with his three children: ‘An air strike hit our neighbours’ home – none of them survived,’ he recounted. ‘When I tried to leave, a quadcopter drone opened fire…All roads were blocked, but we managed to find a side road. We escaped only minutes before Israeli tanks encircled the area,’ he added.
Evacuation Orders Spark Panic
Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets early Friday over several areas in north Gaza calling on residents to evacuate immediately, raising fears the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was expanding its military operation in one of Gaza’s most densely populated regions. The evacuation orders sparked panic among families who have been displaced multiple times since the war began.
Escalating Tensions in Gaza
This attack follows a day of intense Israeli air strikes on Thursday, which killed more than 120 people, mostly in the south. The IDF said it had struck more than 150 ‘terror targets’ throughout Gaza over the past day.
The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile. While a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas agreed in January broke down in March, Arab mediators are reportedly pushing for more time to negotiate a resolution.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid, including food, implemented in March has been widely condemned by the UN and international organizations. Aid organizations and residents say people in Gaza are now starving. A recent UN-backed report warned that Gaza’s entire population – some 2.1 million people – is at critical risk of famine.
