Israeli Military Strikes Multiple Targets in Northern Gaza as Conflict Intensifies

On Saturday, the Israeli military continued its aggressive campaign in northern Gaza, striking multiple targets in response to ongoing threats from Hamas and other militant groups operating in the area. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported multiple successful airstrikes, including a drone strike in the Jabalia area that killed around 10 Hamas gunmen. This attack was carried out after the 414th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit identified the terrorists, with no Israeli soldiers reported as injured.

In another operation, Israeli fighter jets targeted a group of Hamas operatives at a former school in Gaza City's Shati refugee camp. The Abu Assi School, which had been repurposed as a shelter for displaced Palestinians, was struck, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 people and injuring around 20 others, according to Gaza health officials. The IDF stated that the site was being used as a Hamas command center to plan imminent attacks against Israeli forces.

The IDF emphasized its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties, noting that precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence gathering were used to mitigate harm to innocent bystanders. However, Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilian structures such as homes, schools, hospitals, and mosques as cover for military operations, violating international law by turning Gaza’s civilian population into human shields.

Rising Casualties in Gaza

The death toll in Gaza continues to climb, with the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reporting that at least 30 people were killed on Saturday alone. This brings the total number of casualties in Gaza during the ongoing conflict to approximately 43,799, though this figure cannot be independently verified. The Gaza health ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, which has made it difficult to assess the true scope of the casualties.

Israel has stated that it has killed around 18,000 combatants in the ongoing battle, in addition to 1,000 terrorists involved in the October 7 attacks inside Israel. The IDF continues to claim that its operations are specifically aimed at terrorist infrastructure, not civilians.

Rocket Fire and Interceptions

In a rare occurrence, rocket sirens sounded on Saturday in the southern Israeli towns of Sderot and surrounding communities, as two rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel. Both rockets were successfully intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system, and no injuries were reported.

As the war enters its 13th month, Israeli officials remain firm in their resolve to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities in Gaza. Despite the growing civilian casualties, Israel argues that Hamas is using the civilian population as a shield for its operations, complicating efforts to target militants without risking harm to non-combatants.

The ongoing conflict shows no sign of resolution, with Hamas continuing to wage a war of attrition, while Israel maintains its stance on targeting militant infrastructure and leaders within Gaza.