The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that a second consecutive attack on the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, the largest in the Hamas-controlled enclave, was the result of an airstrike.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday night, the IDF reported that their aircraft had targeted a "Hamas command and control complex" in Jabaliya's Falluja neighborhood, as per CNN.
The military also stated that the airstrike had resulted in the elimination of Hamas terrorists.
The IDF emphasized that Hamas intentionally constructs its terrorist infrastructure under, around, and within civilian buildings, thereby putting Gazan civilians at risk.
The statement further highlighted that the IDF had been urging residents in the neighborhood to evacuate while reiterating its call for civilians in northern Gaza to relocate to the southern part of the enclave.
This airstrike caused significant damage to the refugee camp for the second consecutive day. Videos on social media depicted catastrophic destruction, including a deep crater in Falluja.
Following the attack, Atef Al Kahlout, the director of Gaza's Indonesian hospital, informed CNN that at least 80 bodies had been brought to the facility, with more individuals still being rescued from the rubble. The majority of casualties were reported to be women and children, and hundreds of people sustained injuries.
The first Israeli strike on the Jabalya refugee camp on Tuesday also resulted in a substantial loss of life, as stated by eyewitnesses and medics present. Israel defended its actions, claiming that the strike had targeted and killed a senior Hamas commander, although Hamas strongly denied the presence of one of its leaders in the camp.
(With Agency Inputs)
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