‘State of Panic’ Reported in Gaza As Israeli Military Escalate Attacks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A relentless series of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, targeting multiple locations including the Bureij refugee camp, has claimed numerous lives, including children and left residents reeling in panic and devastation.
The assault, marking the 60th day of Israeli war on Gaza, has claimed numerous lives, with reports of entire families perishing in bombings across various residential areas.
The Bureij camp, already grappling with the ongoing conflict's harsh realities, plunged into a state of panic as bombs began raining down at 6:05 am (04:05 GMT) while most residents were asleep.
Mohamed Washa, a correspondent of Al Jazeera Arabic, relayed distressing updates from the scene, reporting that at least 15 houses were completely obliterated. Trapped under the rubble, many wounded individuals await rescue efforts, with residents using their bare hands in the absence of proper equipment or ambulances.
Survivors expressed shock and grief at the unprovoked attack. "We have been destroyed," lamented one resident, emphasizing the innocence of those affected. Another survivor echoed the sentiment, lamenting the disregard for unarmed civilians and innocent children who were asleep at the time of the bombing.
Meanwhile, Israel expanded its ground operations southward in Gaza, launching assaults across various areas, heavily concentrated east of Khan Younis. Reports from Palestinian officials in Gaza revealed the use of phosphorus bombs in these attacks, resulting in tragic losses of entire families in Khan Younis and Rafah.
The scope of the devastation extended to numerous locations, with casualties reported from residential buildings in Jabalia al-Balad and Sheikh Radwan, intensifying the terror and panic among civilians in these areas.
Wafa news agency reported that women and children are believed to be among the casualties in the attack, which hit a residential building belonging to the al-Yaziji family.
Nasser Hospital, overwhelmed by mounting casualties in southern Gaza, faced severe strain, as confirmed by the UN children's agency.
The civilian onslaught persisted with Israeli forces attempting to encircle Palestinian fighters engaged in fierce battles in northern Gaza.
Amidst the chaos, the World Health Organization (WHO) received an alarming notification from Israel to evacuate supplies from a medical warehouse in southern Gaza within 24 hours, citing imminent ground operations that would render it inaccessible. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urgently appealed for Israel to withdraw this order, although COGAT, the Israeli agency involved, denied issuing such an evacuation request.
The unfolding events in Gaza have resulted in immeasurable loss and widespread devastation, with civilians bearing the brunt of relentless Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives with at least 16,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military in Gaza since October 7.
