Intense Israeli attacks erupt in Jabalia, homes, shops demolished

Israeli forces and Hamas fighters clashed fiercely in the densely populated Jabalia area of northern Gaza, marking some of the most intense fighting since Israeli troops re-entered the region last week. Residents reported that Israeli armor had penetrated as far as the market in the heart of Jabalia, demolishing homes and shops along their path. The area, one of Gaza’s largest refugee camps, has witnessed widespread destruction, with tanks and planes obliterating residential districts and commercial establishments.

The return to Jabalia comes despite Israeli claims of having previously cleared the area to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping. The renewed conflict has left the local population in a state of fear and displacement, as described by resident Ayman Rajab.

Meanwhile, in southern Gaza near Rafah, heavy fighting has prompted hundreds of thousands to flee, with thick smoke billowing over the city. The United Nations has reported widespread panic among residents, who are struggling to find safe routes and destinations.

As ground battles raged, the U.S. military facilitated the first sea-based aid delivery in weeks, using a temporary pier to move supplies into Gaza. The World Food Programme has readied food, water, shelter, and medical supplies for distribution from its central Gaza warehouses, although the U.N. continues to stress that land convoys are the most efficient aid delivery method.

U.S. aid shipments are being routed through Cyprus, with the White House expressing concerns over the humanitarian crisis. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is scheduled to visit Israel to advocate for a targeted offensive against Hamas rather than a broad assault on Rafah.

Hamas has condemned the ongoing siege and blockade, accusing Israel and the U.S. of exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The volatile situation has also forced a group of U.S. medical workers to evacuate from a hospital in Gaza where they had been providing care.