JERUSALEM – Kamal Masoud found himself discussing survival strategies with his family in their home in the Jabalya refugee camp when Israeli missiles struck, causing widespread devastation in his neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip. The attack on the camp, which left numerous residential buildings flattened and civilians trapped under debris, resulted in a death toll of over 110 people and hundreds injured. Masoud and his family were lucky to survive, but tragically, 30 of his relatives were killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the ground operation as the “second phase of the war,” and this attack on Jabalya offers a glimpse into the destruction faced by civilians in Gaza as Israeli ground forces continue to advance. Since the conflict began, over 8,796 Gazans have been killed and 22,219 wounded. The scale of the damage in Jabalya alone spans approximately 50,000 square feet, with a dozen buildings either toppled or damaged. The destruction is visible through blackened rooftops caused by the explosion.
The Israeli military claimed that the strike targeting the densely-populated camp was aimed at killing a senior Hamas commander involved in an attack on southern Israel a week earlier, which resulted in over 1,400 casualties and 230 hostages. However, Palestinian officials denied the presence of the targeted commander at the site of the attack. The Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson stated that other militants were killed alongside the claimed target but did not provide specific numbers. The military has not yet provided an assessment of the number of civilian casualties.
The attack overwhelmed hospitals and stretched the already limited resources of rescue teams. Residents attempted to rescue people from the wreckage while hospitals struggled to accommodate the influx of bloodied bodies. The destruction is significant, with buildings collapsed and people searching through rubble for survivors. The aftermath shares stark similarities with the devastation caused by natural disasters.
Throughout the conflict, Israel has urged residents of the north to move south to protect themselves as ground operations expand. However, many in the north lack the means to relocate or find safe shelter in the south. Those who have fled have either been killed while escaping or died in Israeli attacks on the supposed safe zone. Hospitals, which should provide refuge, have also come under fire. Strikes caused severe damage near Gaza’s Indonesian hospital, which treated victims of the first attack on Jabalya.
Communication lines remain unreliable, with internet and phone services disrupted for over 30 hours. The blackout further hindered communication between families trying to locate their loved ones following the attack. Marwan Sultan, director of the Indonesian hospital, stated that his staff received over 110 victims with fatal injuries and more than 300 wounded individuals after the initial attack. However, subsequent Israeli strikes on different parts of the camp resulted in additional casualties. Fuel shortages also jeopardize the ongoing rescue operations, with dozens still trapped under rubble.
As the conflict intensifies, the suffering of civilians in Gaza continues to escalate. Hospitals are overwhelmed, infrastructure is destroyed, and communication is limited. The cycle of violence and devastation persists, leaving innocent lives shattered and communities in ruins.
