Palestinians returning to Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza in recent days have been shocked by the extensive destruction caused by a three-week Israeli military operation against Hamas and other armed groups. One displaced man described witnessing horrifying scenes, with rubble and demolished buildings lining the streets. Basic services and goods, such as electricity, water, clinics, and food, were scarce. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees received horrific reports from the camp, which has seen intense battles and bombardment.
The Israel Defense Forces declared that they had eliminated many terrorists during the operation in Jabalia, leaving a power vacuum that allowed Hamas to rebuild. Troops re-entered the camp in May to counter Hamas’s attempts to reassemble their infrastructure. The battles in the camp were fierce, resulting in the destruction of homes, infrastructure, and loss of lives.
Displaced families returned to find their homes destroyed, with rescue teams recovering numerous bodies, including women and children. Reports of casualties were disputed by the IDF, who claimed they were members of armed groups. The town and camp were declared disaster zones, with thousands of housing units destroyed.
The international community was called upon to provide immediate shelter assistance and support in rebuilding critical infrastructure. Unrwa reported that their offices were destroyed, and displaced families were living in damaged UN-run schools. Residents described the devastation as unprecedented, with homes, stores, and infrastructure completely destroyed.
Despite the destruction, residents vowed to remain steadfast and urged the international community to intervene to help those affected by the conflict. The level of devastation was so severe that some residents felt like they were seeing their streets for the first time, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance in rebuilding and supporting the affected population. “Por favor, apúrate y ven a vernos para ver cuánto estamos atormentados.
Israel lanzó una campaña militar en Gaza para destruir a Hamas en respuesta al ataque transfronterizo del grupo al sur de Israel el 7 de octubre, durante el cual unas 1,200 personas fueron asesinadas y 251 fueron tomadas como rehenes.
Al menos 36,470 personas han sido asesinadas en Gaza desde entonces, según el ministerio de salud dirigido por Hamas.
[BBC]”