By Nidal al-Mughrabi
CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli forces widened their raid into northern Gaza and tanks reached the north fringe of Gaza Metropolis, pounding some districts of the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood and forcing many households to go away their properties, residents mentioned.
Residents mentioned Israeli forces had successfully remoted Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya within the far north of the enclave from Gaza Metropolis, blocking entry between the 2 areas besides upon permission for households keen to heed evacuation orders and go away the three cities.
9 days into a significant Israeli operation in northern Gaza, the Hamas-run Gaza authorities media workplace mentioned Israeli strikes had killed round 300 Palestinians there. It mentioned Israel’s bombardment of civilian homes and displacement shelters was supposed to power residents to go away Gaza as soon as and for all, which Israel denies.
Gaza’s well being ministry says dozens of individuals have been confirmed killed within the assaults on northern areas, with many dozens of others feared lifeless on roads and underneath the rubble of homes past the attain of medical groups.
In a while Sunday, Israeli tank shelling killed no less than 22 Palestinians at a college sheltering displaced households in Nuseirat camp within the central Gaza Strip, medics mentioned.
The Hamas-run Gaza authorities media workplace mentioned no less than 15 youngsters and ladies have been amongst these killed within the college. It added that 80 different folks have been wounded.
Hours earlier an Israeli airstrike killed 5 youngsters in The Shati refugee camp in Gaza Metropolis. The Palestinian official information company WAFA and Hamas media mentioned the kids have been enjoying close to a restaurant after they have been killed by a missile fired from an Israeli drone.
The Israeli army didn’t instantly touch upon the 2 stories.
“What’s occurring in northern Gaza is terrifying past phrases,” performing U.N. assist chief Joyce Msuya mentioned in a put up on social media platform X.
“Assaults by Israeli forces are intensifying. Hospitals are compelled to evacuate their sufferers. Important provides operating out. Individuals forcibly displaced, minimize off from assist, left to starve. The atrocities should finish,” she mentioned.
Whereas the principle assault is on the north, Israel can be placing different areas throughout the Gaza Strip. The well being ministry reported no less than 34 folks killed thus far on Sunday.
Many Jabalia residents posted on social media platforms: “We won’t go away, we die, and we do not go away.”
The northern a part of Gaza, house to properly over half the territory’s 2.3 million folks, was bombed to rubble within the first part of Israel’s assault on the territory a 12 months in the past, after the Oct. 7 assaults on Israeli cities by militants who killed 1,200 folks and captured 250 hostages.
After a 12 months of Israeli assaults that killed 42,000 Palestinians, tons of of 1000’s of residents have come again to ruined northern areas. Israel despatched troops again greater than every week in the past to root out fighters it mentioned have been regrouping for extra assaults. Hamas denies fighters function amongst civilians.
The escalation in northern Gaza has taken place alongside an enormous Israeli air assault and floor marketing campaign on a separate entrance in southern Lebanon in opposition to Hezbollah, which like Hamas is an ally of Iran.
“Because the world is targeted on Lebanon and attainable Israeli strike in opposition to Iran, Israel is wiping out Jabalia,” mentioned Nasser, a resident of Beit Lahiya within the northern Gaza Strip.
“The occupation is blowing up roads and destroying residential districts. Individuals additionally do not discover something to eat, they’re trapped inside their properties, fearing bombs might fall onto their heads,” he informed Reuters by way of a chat app.
The Israeli army mentioned in a press release on Sunday that forces working all through the Gaza Strip prior to now 24 hours had attacked about 40 targets and killed dozens of militants.
“The forces of Division 162 proceed to function within the Jabalia area, within the final day the forces killed dozens of terrorists and located explosives, weapons, grenades and different technique of warfare within the area,” it mentioned.
The armed wings of Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and smaller different factions mentioned their fighters attacked Israeli forces in Jabalia and close by areas with anti-tank rockets and mortar hearth.
Palestinian and United Nations officers say there aren’t any secure areas in Gaza. They’ve additionally voiced considerations over extreme shortages of meals, gasoline, and medical provides in northern Gaza, and mentioned there’s a danger of famine there.
Some tank shells landed in some streets of the Gaza Metropolis suburb of Sheikh Radwan, the place tanks arrived on the edges of the territory, residents mentioned, spreading panic among the many inhabitants additional south.
Within the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli authorities launched 12 Palestinians detained throughout the floor offensive, native border officers mentioned. Freed detainees have complained of torture and ill-treatment whereas in Israeli detention, allegations Israel denies.
(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-MughrabiEditing by Peter Graff and Chris Reese)