TEL AVIV, December 22, 2024 (WAFA) — Israeli occupation forces have destroyed approximately 70% of the homes and buildings in Jabalia refugee camp, located in the northern Gaza Strip, during their ongoing military offensive, according to a report published by Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Sunday.
The report described the camp, which was once one of the most densely populated places in the world, as now resembling a "ghost town." Prior to the Israeli assault, Jabalia was home to tens of thousands of refugees, but the recent destruction has left the area unrecognizable.
According to Haaretz, Israeli forces began their offensive in Jabalia on October 5, 2024, as part of the broader military campaign that has devastated Gaza. This is the third time Israeli forces have attacked the camp, with previous raids occurring in December 2023 and May 2024.
The destruction in Jabalia is vast, with only a few buildings remaining intact, and those that do are heavily damaged. Haaretz emphasized the scale of the damage, noting that the camp now resembles a "city of rubble," with streets largely empty and structures reduced to debris.
The report linked the devastation to Israel's ongoing "Generals Plan," a military strategy aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians from the northern and southern regions of Gaza.
The plan, as outlined by Israeli military officials, involves creating a "closed military zone" in the area north of the Netsarim Corridor in central Gaza, which would effectively separate the northern part of Gaza, including Jabalia, from Gaza City and its southern neighborhoods. Under this plan, all Palestinians in these areas would be displaced.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been carrying out a genocidal campaign in Gaza, resulting in the murder and injury of approximately 153,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children. The ssault has also led to more than 11,000 missing persons and widespread famine, which has claimed the lives of numerous children and elderly civilians.
Despite facing international condemnation, including arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Israel has continued its attacks on Gaza, disregarding calls for accountability and an end to the violence.
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