IDF advances into Northern Gaza’s Jabalia amid intense clashes

Israel intensified its ground operation in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, pushing tanks further into the northern region of Jabalia, according to local residents. The Israeli army has issued new evacuation orders to civilians as the area continues to face heavy airstrikes.

Medical sources in Gaza reported casualties in Jabalia but highlighted difficulties in reaching the affected areas due to the ongoing bombardment. The Israeli military stated that their operations aim to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping and launching further attacks.

“Jabalia is being wiped out,” echoed across social media from residents, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack on southern Israel. That attack killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in hundreds being taken hostage.

Palestinian health officials have not yet provided updated casualty numbers, but the death toll in Gaza over the past day is reported to be in the dozens. Israel, meanwhile, confirmed the loss of one soldier during combat in the northern Gaza region.

In addition to the fighting, the Israeli military urged residents of Jabalia and nearby towns, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, to evacuate to designated safe zones in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Hospitals in northern Gaza, including the Indonesia, Kamal Adwan, and Al-Awda facilities, have also received evacuation orders, according to World Health Organization officials, as fewer than half of Gaza’s hospitals remain operational.

Fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad continue to engage Israeli forces in the north using anti-tank rockets. The Israeli army reported killing multiple Palestinian militants and dismantling militant infrastructure during its operations, although independent verification of battlefield claims remains difficult.

Since the offensive began, the Gaza Health Ministry reports nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths, with widespread displacement among Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Humanitarian conditions in the region continue to deteriorate.

Israel contends that Hamas uses civilian areas, including schools and hospitals, as shields for their operations, accusations which Hamas has denied.

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