ISRAEL/GAZA: Israel said that its fighter jets conducted an airstrike in a densely populated refugee camp in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of a Hamas commander and at least 50 Palestinians as fighting escalated in the enclave, where fuel, food, and supplies are becoming increasingly scarce.
The Israeli military stated that 11 soldiers were killed in the fighting in Gaza on Tuesday, the largest one-day loss for the armed forces since an earlier attack by Hamas gunmen on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 300 soldiers and about 1,100 civilians in southern Israel.
According to Israel’s Army Radio, most of the casualties were infantrymen whose vehicles were targeted by an anti-armour missile. The shelling and air strikes in Gaza continued throughout the night, as reported by witnesses.
Israel deployed its forces into Gaza in response to weeks of aerial bombardments in retaliation for an attack by Iran-backed Hamas. An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) statement indicated that the airstrikes on Jabalia, Gaza’s largest refugee camp, resulted in the death of Ibrahim Biari, a Hamas commander, which it stated was “pivotal” in the planning and execution of the assault.
Israel Defence Force (IDF) shared the news on platform X, saying, “IDF fighter jets eliminated Ibrahim Biari, Commander of Hamas’ Central Jabaliya Battalion. Biari was one of the leaders responsible for the murderous terror attack on October 7th.”
“The strike damaged Hamas’ command and control in the area and eliminated a large number of terrorists who were with Biari. Additionally, underground terrorist infrastructure collapsed following the strike. The IDF reiterates its call to the residents of the area to move south for their safety,” the statement continued.
An IDF spokesperson said that dozens of Hamas fighters were present in the same underground tunnel system as Biari and perished when it collapsed during the attack. The IDF is currently investigating the casualties among non-combatants.
“I will do anything to destroy Hamas entirely. I am committed to that. That is the war (for) the future of Israel—nothing less,” Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defence Minister, told reporters on Wednesday, adding, “Hamas terrorists have two options: either be killed or surrender without conditions.”
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem refuted the claim that a senior commander was present in the camp and labelled it as an Israeli pretext for civilian casualties. According to Palestinian health officials, the incident resulted in the deaths of at least 50 Palestinians and left 150 wounded.
In contrast, a statement from Hamas reported 400 fatalities and injuries in Jabalia, which serves as a home to refugee families who fled wars with Israel dating back to 1948.
The explosion caused significant craters surrounded by damaged buildings. Israel had repeatedly issued warnings for Gaza residents to evacuate northern areas, and while many chose to move south, a significant number remained in place.
Also Read: Deputy UK PM Confirms China’s Participation in Upcoming British AI Summit
