Israel Intensifies Gaza Strikes Amid Rising Tensions With Iran, Killing 5 Children

Israel has intensified its military operations in Gaza, targeting central and northern areas of the region, according to Palestinian officials. On Wednesday, the Israeli bombardment reportedly killed at least 18 individuals, including five children and two women, with strikes impacting tents for displaced persons in the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps.

Witnesses from the Associated Press reported seeing bodies at the morgue, including those of nine victims, three of whom were children, transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. This escalation follows remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stated that Israeli forces had eliminated the successor to Hezbollah’s leader, prompting Hezbollah’s acting head to vow continued resistance in southern Lebanon.

The conflict has been ongoing for the past year, sparked by Hamas-led militants breaching Israel’s security fence and launching attacks on army bases and agricultural communities. The October 7 raid by Hamas resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties, primarily civilians, and the abduction of around 250 people. Currently, about 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with one-third feared dead.

As the conflict expands, Israel finds itself engaged with both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which began launching rockets into Israel on October 8, 2023. The situation has also led to increasing tensions between Israel and Iran, with Iran reportedly conducting two missile attacks against Israel. Israel is widely believed to have carried out targeted operations within Iran, including against Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

In a recent airstrike, a family home in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza was targeted, resulting in at least nine fatalities, as reported by the Hamas-run Civil Defense agency. Among the dead were two women and two children, with their bodies taken to Al-Ahly Hospital. Footage released by the Civil Defense depicted first responders recovering victims from the rubble. Earlier this week, Israel launched both air and ground operations in Jabaliya, a densely populated refugee camp established during the 1948 conflict surrounding the formation of Israel. Israel has conducted multiple operations in Jabaliya, frequently returning to the area after militants regroup.