In the early hours of Friday morning, Israeli occupation forces launched a new wave of airstrikes on the northern Gaza Strip, killing at least 30 civilians and injuring dozens more in what local residents have described as one of the deadliest assaults in recent days.

According to local sources, Israeli warplanes bombarded more than 10 residential homes in the town of Beit Lahia and the Jabalia refugee camp, many of which were inhabited by families at the time of the strikes. Rescue operations are ongoing, but emergency teams have reported major difficulties in reaching the affected areas due to destroyed roads and ongoing aerial bombardments. Dozens remain trapped under the rubble, with hopes of survival dwindling.

Medical authorities in Gaza confirmed that over 100 civilians were either killed, injured, or reported missing following the strikes in Beit Lahia and Jabalia. Among the casualties were women and children, continuing a grim trend in Israel’s seven-month-long military campaign.

In a separate incident, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Al-Salateen neighborhood west of Beit Lahia, resulting in the death of one civilian and injuries to 13 others.

The attacks are part of a broader escalation by Israeli forces across the Gaza Strip. On Thursday alone, Gaza’s health officials reported 136 Palestinians killed in multiple strikes throughout the enclave, including 83 in the southern region, five in central areas, 11 in Gaza City, and 37 in the north.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli military has carried out a relentless campaign in Gaza, described by Palestinian officials and international observers as a genocidal war. According to health authorities, the ongoing assault has left approximately 173,000 Palestinians killed or wounded — the majority of them women and children.

More than 11,000 individuals remain unaccounted for, feared buried beneath collapsed buildings or lying on roads that are inaccessible to rescue crews due to continued bombardment and widespread infrastructure destruction.

Human rights organizations and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly called for a ceasefire and international intervention to halt what they describe as “war crimes” and “collective punishment” inflicted upon the population of Gaza.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, Palestinians continue to endure a near-total siege, with basic services, medical aid, and rescue efforts crippled by ongoing attacks. (ILKHA)