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In a latest attack on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, the Israeli military reports the elimination of a Hamas commander, Ibrahim Biari, who played a significant role in the group’s deadly rampage in southern Israel. However, officials in the enclave claim that the attack also resulted in the death of numerous civilians.
As Israeli ground forces continue their fierce battles with Hamas fighters, pushing towards Gaza City, which is said to be the group’s command center, the IDF confirms that the strike on Jabalia has not only killed Biari but also a “large number of terrorists” present with him. The impact of this attack has caused significant damage, as evidenced by the collapsed buildings and large craters visible in video footage from the scene. The aftermath shows desperate crowds searching through the rubble for their loved ones.
The exact number of casualties is still uncertain, with conflicting reports from different sources. The director of Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital claims that over 50 Palestinians were killed and 150 injured, while the director-general of the Palestine Red Crescent states that 25 civilians have lost their lives. The Financial Times has been unable to verify the exact number of casualties.
This latest Israeli strike comes at a time when Gaza, currently under Hamas control, is already grappling with an acute humanitarian crisis. The 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza are in desperate need of basic essentials such as fuel, food, and clean water, and the local hospitals are struggling to cope with the thousands of injured individuals resulting from Israel’s bombardment.
According to the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza, more than 8,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, with over 21,000 injured. The displacement of hundreds of thousands of people has also occurred after Israel ordered the population of northern Gaza, known as Hamas’s “center of gravity,” to relocate further south.
As alarm bells ring across the international community, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expresses his deep concern about the intensification of the conflict via social media. Meanwhile, the Jordanian foreign ministry condemns the “Israeli aggression” at Jabalia and holds Israel responsible for this dangerous development.
Israeli military officials confirm that their strikes have targeted around 300 Hamas sites, including rocket-launch posts, anti-tank missile posts, and military compounds hidden in underground tunnels.
Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, acknowledges the challenging nature of the ongoing land offensive, stating that there is no fighting without a painful cost.
While Israel has been reluctant to provide detailed information about the progress of its ground invasion, the IDF announces that it has gained control over a Hamas compound in western Jabalia, which was used for training and conducting terror activities. This compound also housed firing positions, tunnels leading to the coast, and a substantial arsenal of weapons.
Amidst these escalating hostilities, Unicef, the UN children’s fund, warns that Gaza has become a graveyard for thousands of children and a living hell for everyone else. The situation has severely impacted the provision of clean water, with Gaza now producing only 5% of its normal water output, and the risk of infant deaths from dehydration is increasing.
Sparking fears of regional conflict, the Israeli military intercepts a surface-to-surface missile aimed at the southern city of Eilat from the Red Sea area. The Houthis, an Iran-aligned rebel movement controlling northern Yemen, claims responsibility for launching a “large number of missiles and drones” on Israeli targets. They pledge to continue similar attacks and call on the Arab and Islamic peoples to aid Gaza and its vulnerable population.
The IDF denies any threat or risk to civilians from these attacks. However, a senior UN official warns that the war is already spilling over into Syria, citing recent airstrikes on airports in Aleppo and Damascus, likely carried out by Israeli forces. The envoy also notes the US’s retaliation for multiple attacks on their forces, allegedly backed by Iran, that took place on Syrian territory.
Additionally, hostilities have intensified along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, leading to escalating cross-border fire between the Israeli Defense Forces and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in recent weeks.
This situation continues to unfold, with ongoing conflict and significant humanitarian consequences for the people of Gaza and the wider region. The Financial Times will provide updates on the evolving situation as it develops.
Additional reporting by Samer Al-Atrush, Raya Jalabi, and Simeon Kerr.
