In Gaza, an Israeli airstrike targeting a multi-story building in Jabalya left at least 27 people dead, according to Gaza Civil Defense reports. The building, which housed over 50 displaced individuals, was the residence of the Mbahouh family, and many of the casualties were trapped in a warehouse beneath the structure when the strike hit on Thursday. This incident marks part of a larger wave of Israeli airstrikes that has intensified in Gaza as the military issues new evacuation directives and conducts a comprehensive offensive in northern Gaza.
The strikes have impacted other areas of Gaza City, including the Al-Shati refugee camp, where the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed an airstrike that allegedly targeted a Hamas command center. Additional strikes in Al-Rimal School claimed the lives of four more people, while the school has also been cited by the IDF as a site for Hamas activities. Since Israel began its military operations following the October 7 attacks led by Hamas, substantial areas in Gaza have been destroyed, leaving many parts of the region uninhabitable.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the toll from the escalating conflict is severe, with an estimated 43,469 Palestinians dead and over 102,561 injured since the offensive began. Humanitarian organizations have issued grave warnings, highlighting the near-impossible living conditions facing Gaza’s residents. The UK-based group Medical Aid for Palestinians described the crisis in northern Gaza as apocalyptic, accusing Israeli forces of making survival for displaced Palestinians nearly impossible, as heavy aerial and ground attacks continue.
On Wednesday, Israeli shelling reportedly killed 30 Palestinians in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya neighborhood. This included multiple strikes on residential buildings that resulted in at least six deaths and numerous injuries. Civil Defense teams in Gaza City continue to recover bodies from destroyed areas, such as the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, where they recently found eight deceased civilians. Witnesses, including Salim Mohammed Alaa Abu Najeh, shared that his sister’s home was struck without warning. The residence housed orphans and elderly residents, none of whom had any affiliations with militant groups.
Israel’s military spokesperson in Arabic reiterated evacuation orders, urging residents in specific northern regions to relocate south for their safety, citing repeated rocket attacks from Gaza. As the IDF claims it is focusing on Hamas’ infrastructure, the growing number of civilian casualties and residential strikes has drawn international attention and raised questions about civilian protection and humanitarian impact.
In southern Gaza, operations continued as the IDF reported killing several suspected militants in Rafah, with further airstrikes in Al-Janina leading to additional fatalities, including four family members. With the conflict escalating, humanitarian agencies remain deeply concerned over the severe impact on Gaza’s civilian population.
