In a series of airstrikes and ground operations on Tuesday, Israeli forces targeted a Hamas "terrorist stronghold" in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. The strikes resulted in the leveling of multiple apartment buildings in the densely populated area, with Palestinian officials reporting civilian casualties.

According to the director of Gaza's Indonesian hospital, at least 50 people were killed and 150 wounded in the bombardment. However, the numbers could not be independently verified. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry confirmed significant destruction of apartment blocks and a high number of casualties, but details were not immediately provided.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, stated that Hamas terrorists were using civilians as human shields, complicating military operations. The IDF claims that Hamas has constructed terrorist infrastructure beneath residential areas. They also assert that the operation targeted a Hamas leader allegedly involved in a deadly attack on October 7 in southern Israel, where Hamas fighters infiltrated Israeli communities, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages.

The IDF further reported that approximately 50 terrorists were killed in the Jabaliya operation. They emphasized the destruction of entrances to underground tunnels, which serve as storage for weapons and planning and launching attacks by Hamas.

One of the casualties identified by Israel as Ebrahim Biari, the commander of Hamas' Jabaliya center battalion, was killed in the recent strikes. Israel claims to have eliminated at least 55 Hamas leaders throughout the ongoing conflict.

The situation in Gaza has escalated over the past three weeks, with the Hamas-run Health Ministry reporting over 8,500 deaths, including 3,500 children, from Israeli strikes. The United Nations estimates that around one million people have been displaced from the northern half of Gaza. Consequently, calls for an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza continue to grow, as military operations intensify.

As the conflict shows no sign of abating, the true extent of the casualties and destruction remains uncertain. The international community and humanitarian organizations continue to urge all parties involved to seek a peaceful resolution and protect the civilian population caught in the crossfire.