More than six Israeli airstrikes targeted residential areas within the Jabalia refugee camp on the outskirts of Gaza City on October 31, the 25th day of the ongoing conflict, resulting in significant damage and numerous casualties, that the United Nations described as a “graveyard” for children.
According to Hamas officials, over 50 people lost their lives, and approximately 150 were injured in the attacks.
Key facts about Jabalia refugee camp
- Jabalia is the largest of the Gaza Strip’s eight refugee camps.
- The densely populated camp in the north of the besieged enclave covers an area of only 1.4 square kilometers (0.5 square miles).
- The UN reports that there are approximately 116,000 registered refugees in the camp.
- The Israeli military has conducted multiple attacks on the camp since the start of the conflict, including on October 9, 12, 19, and 22, resulting in numerous casualties.
- The camp accommodates three UN-run schools that have been converted into shelters for hundreds of displaced families.
- According to the UN, the camp faces issues of overcrowding and a shortage of living space.
“Shelters are built in close proximity to one another, and there is a general lack of recreational and social space. In many cases, residents have had to add extra floors to their shelters to accommodate their families. Often, these structures lack proper design, and many residents live in substandard conditions,” as stated by the UN.
Video footage from the scene showed rescue teams working to retrieve 47 bodies from the rubble, alongside efforts to locate survivors amid the debris and two substantial craters.
Israel claims Jabalia camp attacked to kill Hamas Commander
The Israeli military claimed that the airstrike on the Jabalia camp targeted and eliminated Ibrahim Biari, whom they described as a key Hamas commander responsible for an earlier attack on Israel. The Israel Defense Forces also alleged that Hamas had taken over civilian buildings in Gaza City.
Hamas, on the other hand, vehemently denied the presence of one of its leaders in the refugee camp. They accused Israel of attempting to justify what they termed a “heinous crime against safe civilians, children, and women in Jabalia camp.”
Gaza Death Toll
The Gaza health ministry condemned the attack as a “heinous” massacre.
- Since October 7, the Israeli bombardments have killed at least 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children and 2,290 women.
- At least 22,219 people have been injured in Gaza.
- More than 1,538 Israelis have lost their lives in the Hamas attacks.
- Despite calls from multiple UN agencies for a humanitarian ceasefire, communications in Gaza went down again on November 1, 2023, as Israel continued its bombardment and expanded ground operations.
Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has apologised to the people of Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, saying that the “world could not protect you”.
There are reports of a possible arrangement, mediated by Qatar, allowing up to 500 foreign nationals to exit Gaza through the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.
On Wednesday, a convoy of ambulances arrived at the Egyptian side of the crossing to receive around 80 injured Palestinians, marking the first known evacuation of Palestinians from the enclave in weeks.
Aid situation
The situation in Gaza has worsened, with clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters and concerns from aid agencies about dwindling humanitarian efforts.
The distribution of aid has been hindered by rubble-filled streets, bombings, fuel shortages, and public disorder.
Following the attack by Hamas, Israel has limited the supply of essential goods to an average of 14 trucks carrying food, water, and medicine daily. The United Nations has indicated that at least 100 trucks are necessary to meet the basic needs of the 2.3 million people in Gaza. Before the conflict, the region received 400 to 500 truckloads of supplies daily.
In response to calls from the Biden administration, which is concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation and its potential regional implications, Israel pledged to increase aid. This commitment began with the scheduled entry of 80 trucks through the Rafah crossing with Egypt.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of 67 UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) workers. This has complicated the operation of 150 shelters, which are already overwhelmed by over 670,000 displaced individuals.
Approximately 8,000 people are sheltered at a logistics base in Rafah, which has created logistical challenges. Despite these difficulties, the UNRWA managed to distribute hundreds of tonnes of flour to 50 Gaza bakeries, helping to mitigate rising bread prices.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported severe damage to its Gaza City warehouses, rendering them inoperative.
Additionally, the World Health Organization expressed concerns about the destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure, which could lead to potential disease outbreaks, including diarrhea and respiratory infections, told Christian Lindmeier, a WHO spokesperson. “It’s an imminent public health catastrophe.”