### Israel's Offensive in North Gaza: Civilian Casualties and Besieged Hospitals

Israel's ongoing military operations in northern Gaza have resulted in severe civilian casualties and the destruction of essential infrastructure, particularly in places like Beit Lahiya, where residential areas were targeted on Saturday. According to the Government Media Office, at least 87 people have been killed or are missing, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli assault on northern Gaza, which began on October 6, aims to prevent Hamas from regrouping. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army's Arabic spokesperson, has claimed that Hamas is using the population as human shields by establishing terrorist infrastructure within civilian areas. Israel has demanded the evacuation of residents from large parts of northern Gaza, including Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoon, directing them to relocate to the densely populated humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi. However, even these so-called safe zones have not been spared from attacks, prompting the United Nations to declare that no place in the enclave is truly safe.

The harsh conditions on the ground were described vividly by a northern Gaza resident who told Al Jazeera, "The bombardment was intense and merciless around our house, disregarding the presence of children and women inside... Bodies are left in the streets. They've become food for dogs." Efforts at rescue have been severely hindered by a communications blackout and road obstructions.

Footage released by the Israeli army shows dozens of Palestinians, including people in wheelchairs, being rounded up near the Indonesian Hospital. These scenes underscore the dire situation for the estimated 400,000 people affected by the evacuation orders, representing about 20 percent of Gaza's population. Many of these individuals remain trapped due to continuous bombardments, sniper fire, and ground troop activities. UN human rights chief Volker Turk has warned that any large-scale forcible transfer of the population could be deemed a war crime.

The lack of humanitarian aid exacerbates the crisis. No food aid has reached northern Gaza since October 2, and essential supplies are dwindling. The UN's World Food Programme indicated that the north is basically cut off, making operations impossible. Emergency doctor James Smith recounted his experience of being repeatedly denied access by Israeli military checkpoints, preventing the retrieval of injured and sick patients.

While the Israeli military claims over 9,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid have entered Gaza since October 1, and some of it reached the north, the Government Media Office has deemed these statements as fabrications. According to medics, the Israeli siege has resulted in at least 450 deaths in northern Gaza since the beginning of October.

Among the areas hardest hit is Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza, where 33 people were killed on Friday alone. Hospitals such as al-Awda, Indonesian, and Kamal Adwan are overwhelmed with patients. All three have suffered bombings during the siege, with critical power outages and restricted medical supplies leading to additional fatalities. Despite evacuation orders, the medical staff continues to operate under exceedingly challenging conditions, refusing to abandon their patients.