KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip. A relentless onslaught of Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday leveled residential apartment buildings in a Gaza City refugee camp. Rescuers worked tirelessly to extract survivors from the debris, while Israel maintained that the strike targeted a senior Hamas military leader, annihilating a militant command center and an underground tunnel network.
The precise toll of the Jabaliya camp attack remained uncertain, as the director of the nearby hospital, Dr. Atef Al-Kahlot, reported hundreds of casualties without specifying exact figures. The Israeli military asserted that the strike had resulted in the deaths of dozens of militants, including a significant Hamas commander in northern Gaza.
Israeli officials vigorously defended the attack, asserting that the targeted commander played a key role in the initiation of the war during the October 7 assault. They further contended that the apartment buildings collapsed due to the extensive underground Hamas infrastructure being destroyed.
As the conflict intensifies, with Israeli troops advancing deeper into densely populated areas of northern Gaza, the potential for increased casualties on both sides grows. Israel has made it clear that its objective is to neutralize Hamas’ governance in Gaza and prevent threats to its security. Meanwhile, Hamas, an Islamic militant group, openly advocates for the destruction of Israel.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Palestinian telecoms company Paltel reported a second interruption of internet and mobile phone services in Gaza in five days. The blackout significantly hampers the efforts of humanitarian aid agencies already grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis.
Amid these developments, more than 8,500 Palestinians have been reported killed, primarily women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Over 1,400 individuals have died on the Israeli side, including civilians during Hamas’ initial attack. Additionally, Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets into Israel, adding to the complexity of the situation.
The war’s repercussions have also been felt on other fronts, as Israel has exchanged fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group along the border. Israel and the U.S. have targeted sites in Syria linked to Iran, which supports Hamas, Hezbollah, and other armed groups in the region.
The situation remains fluid and extremely challenging, with many Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza finding themselves caught in the crossfire as ground operations intensify and the conflict shows no signs of abating.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
