Shelling and Gun Battles Escalate in Northern Gaza
As the conflict in Gaza enters its seventh month, the Israeli military is intensifying its operations. The latest focus has been on Rafah, marking a significant escalation as it’s the last city in the Gaza Strip that had not yet faced a ground offensive. A government spokesperson emphasized that Israel is “moving ahead” with the assault on Hamas, while also stating their intent to spare Palestinian civilians.
In the wake of these developments, residents of northern Gaza have begun fleeing their homes again, mere weeks after returning. The Israeli military’s bombardment has been concentrated on Beit Lahiya, where evacuation orders were issued for four neighborhoods deemed a “dangerous combat zone.” The attacks resumed with vigor overnight on Monday, targeting areas in the north from which Israeli troops had previously withdrawn.
International concern grows as plans for an attack on Rafah, home to over 1 million displaced people, unfold. Aid agencies are warning of a potential humanitarian catastrophe, and U.S. President Joe Biden has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider the invasion of Rafah. The Israeli government insists that protecting civilians will be a crucial element of their strategy.
Israel’s campaign aims to eradicate Hamas following the group’s deadly rampage in southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages. The ongoing war has already claimed over 34,000 Palestinian lives, with many more feared buried under rubble. The offensive has devastated much of the enclave, displacing most of its 2.3 million residents and triggering a humanitarian crisis.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours have led to at least 79 Palestinian deaths and 86 injuries. Specific incidents include fatalities from a strike on a house in Rafah and casualties from a missile hitting a group outside a supermarket in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp.
Residents report heavy shelling not just in northern Gaza but also in suburbs of Gaza City. Mohammad Jamal, a resident of Gaza City, expressed confusion and distress over the renewed intensity of attacks, likening it to the war’s beginning.
Israel’s recent operations in Beit Lahiya were reportedly aimed at areas used by Islamic Jihad to launch rockets. The military also targeted tunnels, military structures, and rocket launchers poised for use against Israel. Meanwhile, central Gaza around Al-Nuseirat and Khan Younis has also experienced shelling.
In a concerning development, authorities at Nasser hospital complex have uncovered more bodies from a mass grave, raising the total found to 334. Palestinians accuse Israeli troops of using bulldozers to bury corpses to conceal crimes, while the Israeli military claims it reburied bodies after ensuring no hostages were among them.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run government media office, alleges that many identified bodies belonged to individuals who were alive before the hospital was stormed. He suggests that the depth of the graves indicates they were dug by heavy machinery used by Israeli forces.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on Wednesday’s developments as tensions continue to rise amidst the ongoing bombardment and assault on Hamas.
