Israeli airstrikes on Gaza refugee camp killed more than 200 people
At least 200 Palestinians were killed in two rounds of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Hamas-run government media office said.
About 120 were still missing under the rubble, and at least 777 more were injured, according to the official statement released by the media office.
The strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp have drawn international attention and condemnation. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has referred to these attacks as 'disproportionate' and raised concerns that they may amount to 'war crimes.'
In the wake of these devastating events, efforts to evacuate foreign nationals from the besieged Gaza Strip have gained urgency. An initial group of approximately 320 foreign citizens, out of a list totaling 500, along with numerous severely injured Gazans, were able to leave Gaza on Wednesday. This evacuation operation was coordinated through an agreement involving Israel, Egypt, and Hamas.
Gaza border officials have indicated that the border crossing will reopen on Thursday to facilitate the departure of more foreign nationals. A diplomatic source suggests that around 7,500 foreign passport holders are expected to leave Gaza over a period of approximately two weeks.
These tragic events occur within the context of Israel's ongoing military offensive against Hamas. The Israeli military has launched a campaign involving airstrikes by land, sea, and air with the aim of neutralizing the militant group. This offensive follows a cross-border attack by Hamas into southern Israel on October 7th, during which Israel alleges that Hamas killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 hostages.
The situation remains tense, with reports of loud explosions in the early hours of Thursday near Gaza City's al-Quds hospital, a densely populated area. The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported these incidents. Israeli authorities had previously issued warnings to the hospital to evacuate, but United Nations officials have argued that such a move would endanger patients and be logistically challenging.
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