No fewer than 33 people have been killed while 85 others wounded after Israeli airstrikes targeted homes in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza on Friday, according to medical sources.
The densely populated camp, one of the largest of Gaza’s historic refugee centers, was struck as Israeli tanks reportedly advanced, destroying roads and residential buildings, residents said.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza government’s media office warned that the death toll could rise further as more individuals are feared trapped under the rubble.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA confirmed that children were among the casualties.
The Gaza health ministry also reported additional Israeli strikes that claimed the lives of at least 39 Palestinians across the territory, including 20 in Jabalia.
However, Israel has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
Reuters reports that residents of Jabalia have said that Israeli tanks have advanced into the camp after moving through surrounding suburbs and residential areas.
They claim the Israeli army is destroying dozens of homes daily using both airstrikes and ground operations, including remotely detonating explosives planted in buildings.
The Israeli military stated that its forces, active in Jabalia for two weeks, killed numerous militants during close-quarters combat on Thursday, executed aerial strikes, and dismantled military infrastructure.
On the same day, Israel announced the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, whom it accused of orchestrating the deadly October 7 attack—considered the deadliest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to the Israeli military, the operation in Jabalia aims to prevent Hamas fighters from regrouping for further attacks.
Residents have reported that Israeli forces have effectively cut off the northern Gaza towns of Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya from Gaza City, restricting movement to families following evacuation orders.
They noted that communications and internet services had been disrupted, hampering rescue efforts.
Health officials on Friday called for urgent supplies of fuel, medical resources, and food to be sent to three overwhelmed hospitals in northern Gaza.
At Kamal Adwan Hospital, medical staff indicated that they had to prioritise treating critically injured adults over children in intensive care due to the influx of patients from Israeli airstrikes targeting a school sheltering displaced individuals in Jabalia on Thursday.
Kamal Adwan’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya, stated in a video shared with the media that the children had been relocated within the hospital for continued care. He also mentioned the exhaustion of medical personnel and severe shortages of hospital supplies, including food.
Israel reported sending approximately 30 truckloads of aid into northern Gaza on Friday, containing food, water, medical supplies, and shelter equipment. Military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani emphasized, “We’re fighting Hamas, we’re not fighting the people of Gaza,” during an online briefing with journalists.
However, both Hamas and health officials argue that the aid has not reached the most affected areas, including the isolated towns.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, stated on X that the recent attack on the school marked the third assault on an UNRWA facility this week, disclosed that the agency had lost 231 staff members in the past year of conflict.
Northern Gaza, once home to over half of the territory’s 2.3 million residents, was heavily bombed during the initial phase of Israel’s military campaign last year.
Israel’s military operations began following the October 7 attacks by Hamas-led fighters, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
According to Gaza’s health authorities, over 42,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s ongoing offensive.