Civilians Under Drone Fire: Chaos and Tragedy in Northern Gaza

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
08/10/2024 18h01

**Civilians Targeted During Evacuation in Northern Gaza Amid Renewed Israeli Military Operations**

Residents of northern Gaza attempting to flee escalating Israeli military operations are coming under fire, according to accounts from witnesses and footage obtained by CNN. Mohammad Sultan, a 28-year-old resident, reported that he fled with his family from their home in Jabalya due to relentless bombardments. When he returned to collect essential supplies, he and others were shot at by drones targeting civilians on the road.

"Drones were firing at everyone passing by on the road," Sultan relayed to CNN. "Three people were shot right in front of me. My brother and I tried to help the injured get to the hospitals, but a little girl was shot in the neck, and her father was also injured." The incident occurred at Abu Sharkh roundabout in Jabalya, Sultan added.

Sultan's footage depicts residents traversing a debris-laden road, some on bicycles or tuk-tuks, others on foot carrying heavy bags. The sinister sound of buzzing drones and piercing bullets set off screams and frantic attempts to find cover. In the video, Sultan's shouts are heard as he films bloodied civilians, including a man limping towards him and a girl with a blood-soaked bandage around her neck. Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City later identified her as 9-year-old Dana Nasser, who required surgery. Her father sustained a leg injury.

The Israeli military escalated operations on Monday, issuing new evacuation orders for northern and southern Gaza, directing residents to Al Mawasi, a so-called humanitarian zone already overwhelmed with refugees. The military stated it is "currently operating with great force" in the area, particularly targeting Jabalya, which they claimed Hamas is using to rebuild its operational capabilities. Residents reported receiving urgent evacuation warnings through flyers dropped over Jabalya on Tuesday morning.

In the midst of this intensified conflict, Hassan Hamad, an 18-year-old resident of Jabalya, lost his life when his family's apartment was struck by an Israeli missile in the Jabalya refugee camp. His aunt Itaf remained in the city to gather his remains for a proper burial. Speaking to CNN, she described the perilous conditions, with constant gunfire and shelling preventing her from leaving her house.

Other residents, like Mohammad Ibrahim, shared harrowing tales of enduring the bombardment. Ibrahim, who stayed in his home with his two sons, described the explosions as so powerful they seemed to tear his body apart. He said smoke was visibly billowing from abandoned buildings, painting a stark picture of the destruction.

Jabalya, a frequent target throughout the conflict, offers little refuge for its beleaguered inhabitants. "We are living in the Stone Age," Ibrahim lamented, emphasizing the complete breakdown of basic human rights and humanitarian considerations.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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