BEIRUT — On Saturday, residents of northern Gaza reported intense Israeli airstrikes following an attack that resulted in the deaths of at least 22 individuals. The Israeli military continues to urge civilians in both Gaza and southern Lebanon to evacuate to safety as it pursues military operations against militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
In Lebanon, the United Nations peacekeeping force indicated that its headquarters in Naqoura was targeted again, with at least one peacekeeper wounded by gunfire late Friday but now in stable condition. The identity of the shooter remains unknown. This incident occurred after Israel had previously bombarded the peacekeepers’ headquarters for consecutive days. Israel did not provide immediate comments regarding these developments, despite their warnings for peacekeepers to vacate their positions.
Residents of northern Gaza expressed serious concerns about food shortages, stating that they have not received any humanitarian aid since the start of the month. The U.N. World Food Program confirmed that no food supplies have entered the region since October 1, leaving approximately 400,000 people in dire need.
The Israeli military intensified its operations in northern Gaza nearly a week ago and also ramped up its air and ground assaults against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Reports from Lebanon’s National News Agency indicated that an Israeli airstrike targeted an apartment building in the Zarout coastal area south of Beirut, resulting in four deaths and 14 injuries. Hezbollah continues to retaliate by launching attacks into Israeli territory.
“We will continue to stand alongside the Lebanese people in these tough times and in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” declared Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, while visiting an area affected by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
Residents trapped in northern Gaza face a grim reality, with dwindling supplies and uncollected bodies visible in the streets due to the continuous bombings that hinder emergency services.
Following the recent airstrikes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, eyewitnesses described a large crater where a residence once stood, with at least 20 bodies recovered and more possibly trapped under the debris. In another incident in Jabaliya, a strike on a family home resulted in the deaths of two brothers, injuring a woman and a newborn baby.
The Israeli military did not respond immediately to inquiries regarding these strikes, but military spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents in parts of Jabaliya and Gaza City to evacuate southward to a designated humanitarian zone while warning that the military would employ significant force in ongoing operations.
Israel has repeatedly targeted parts of Gaza, attempting to eliminate regrouping militant forces. The current conflict has led to widespread destruction in Gaza and displaced roughly 90% of its 2.3 million residents, often forcing them to flee multiple times.
“It feels like the early days of the conflict,” reflected Ahmed Abu Goneim, a 24-year-old resident from Jabaliya. “The occupation is doing everything to uproot us. But we will not leave.”
He lamented the loss of at least 15 relatives and neighbors due to recent strikes, including women and young children. The relentless bombardment has left bodies in the streets, with rescuers unable to recover them.
Hamza Sharif, who has sought refuge with his family in a school repurposed as a shelter in Jabaliya, described the situation as “constant bombings day and night.” He noted that their shelter has not seen any aid since the beginning of the month, and families are now relying on dwindling personal supplies.
The World Food Program indicated it was uncertain how much longer the limited food supplies distributed earlier would last for the beleaguered residents of northern Gaza. The U.N.’s independent investigator on food rights had previously accused Israel of conducting a “starvation campaign” against Palestinians, a claim that Israel has dismissed.
Israel’s military actions were triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7, during which militants entered Israel, claiming around 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians, and abducting about 250 individuals. The ongoing Israeli offensive has reportedly resulted in over 42,000 Palestinian deaths, as stated by local health authorities, while the distinction between combatants and civilians remains unspecified. The Gaza Health Ministry reported an influx of 49 bodies into hospitals over the last 24 hours.
