Overnight in Northern Gaza, Israel launched one of their most substantial attacks in recent weeks, resulting in tremendous fear among the local population as well as widespread destruction of local neighbourhoods, according to Tuesday’s reports from residents. This is a region where Israeli forces had previously scaled down military operations.
Israeli military tanks were reported to have penetrated the outskirts of Beit Hanoun, at the northern frontier of the Gaza strip, though they did not progress significantly into the town, according to local witnesses and Hamas-associated media. Gunshots were even reported in some schools sheltering displaced local residents.
In Israel, where government offices and businesses had closed in observance of the Jewish Passover holiday, there were warnings of incoming rockets in the southern border towns. However, there were no reports of injuries.
The militant arm of the Islamic Jihad, allied with Hamas, has claimed responsibility for the rocket attacks on Sderot and Nir Am. This suggests that despite nearly 200 days of warfare in Gaza, which has greatly devastated the region and displaced nearly all of its 2.3 million inhabitants, the fighters remain operational.
From the southern Israeli border, plumes of thick, black smoke were visible rising from Northern Gaza. In areas such as Zeitoun, one of Gaza City’s oldest suburbs, the shelling was particularly intense to the east of Beit Hanoun and Jabalia and persisted into Tuesday morning. Residents reported at least ten strikes in a mere few seconds along the primary road.
In Beit Lahiya, located just west of Beit Hanoun, both medical professionals and Hamas-associated media have reported strikes on a mosque and a crowd on the coastal road gathering airborne-dropped aid.
Um Mohammad, a 53-year-old mother of six who lives 700m from Zeitoun, described the experience as a night of terror similar to the early days of the conflict. “The bombing from tanks and planes was relentless”, she said, communicating through a chat app. She expressed her worry for her family and uncertainty about their survival.
In response, the Israeli army claimed that the rockets launched overnight into Israel were launched from the north of Gaza. According to the army, targeted and precise strikes resulted in the destruction of rocket launchers and the death of several militants.
The Israeli Air Force launched another set of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, hitting approximately 25 targets related to terrorism. This included military structures, terrorist operatives, and launch sites. The shelling and bombing of northern Gaza resumed after almost four months, in spite of the Israeli army’s prior withdrawal of troops on the basis that the area was no longer under Hamas control.
Earlier this month, Israel also substantially reduced its military presence in southern Gaza. However, attempts to establish a ceasefire fell through, with ongoing Israeli air attacks and raids into territories previously occupied by Israeli troops, making it hard for the displaced Gazan population to return to their homes. Additionally, the southern city of Khan Younis was the target of strikes on Tuesday, coming one day after tank attacks on the city’s eastern districts.
Israel maintains that its objective is to eliminate Hamas, which governs the enclave. This intention was cemented after a militant attack on the 7th of October, resulting in the death of 1,200 individuals and the capture of 253 hostages, as per Israeli records.
Casualties, including deaths and injuries, from the Israeli military airstrikes within the past day alll over the Gaza Strip were reported as 32 and 59 respectively, as stated by Palestinian health officials governed by Hamas. They also confirmed a death toll of over 34,000 people during the seven-month conflict, with a large number of bodies yet to be discovered.
The active military zone separating the northern and southern parts of Gaza, around Deir Al-Balah, was also reportedly attacked on Tuesday.
Nasser Hospital, the primary health facility in southern Gaza, revealed a shocking discovery of 35 bodies from one of an estimated three mass graves within its premises. This took the total body count at the location to 310 within a week. Israel defended its violence within medical facilities, alleging Hamas militants were operating there. This claim was refuted by both medical personnel and Hamas.