Israel's Intensified Airstrikes in Northern Gaza Leave 22 Dead Amid Worsening Conflict

 

At least 22 people were killed in northern Gaza as Israeli forces ramped up airstrikes on the densely populated Palestinian territory. This escalation coincides with growing tensions in Lebanon, where Israel is also engaged in a new conflict.

On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) renewed calls for Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate, particularly from areas like Sheikh Radwan in Gaza City and sections near the Jabalia refugee camp. However, many residents say that constant fighting and sniper fire make it impossible to flee.

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged civilians to move south to the al-Mawasi coastal area, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people have already gathered. Around 84% of Gaza is now under evacuation orders, but civilians continue to be forced into shrinking "humanitarian zones" that have also come under fire.

According to the United Nations, an estimated 400,000 people are currently trapped in northern Gaza, enduring intense ground battles and artillery fire. Jabalia, in particular, has been at the center of heavy fighting for over a week.

“It’s becoming more unbearable each day. Fear and the living conditions are indescribable,” said Badr Alzaharna, a 25-year-old resident of Gaza City, who explained that he couldn’t escape because the Rafah crossing has been closed since May.

Gaza’s health ministry has appealed for medical teams to be allowed access to evacuate the wounded and for fuel deliveries to reach struggling hospitals in the north. The World Health Organization reported that seven of its missions were blocked by Israeli forces this week, further complicating efforts to provide humanitarian aid.

The World Food Programme (WFP) also raised alarms, reporting that no food aid had reached northern Gaza since October 1. Food supplies in the region have dropped by 35%, deepening fears of famine, a crisis that has already plagued the territory for a year.

Israeli airstrikes in Jabalia destroyed entire buildings overnight on Friday, with medics still searching for survivors beneath the rubble. Among the victims were six women and seven children, according to Gaza's health ministry. Additional strikes on Saturday killed two parents and injured their baby.

The IDF has not commented on the latest airstrikes or civilian casualties. Although Israel has controlled northern Gaza since the beginning of the year, fighting continues in areas where Hamas fighters are reportedly regrouping.

Meanwhile, the conflict in Lebanon continues to escalate. Lebanese authorities reported 60 deaths and 168 injuries in the last 24 hours. The United Nations peacekeeping force along the Israel-Lebanon border confirmed that its headquarters in Naqoura had been targeted for a second time, though it remains unclear who was responsible.

The ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which reignited after Hamas’s October 7 attacks, has heightened concerns about a broader regional war involving Iran and the US. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza have been stalled since July.