Hundreds of casualties as Israel targets refugee camp in Gaza: Interior Ministry

By Mohammad Majid

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - A series of Israeli airstrikes on a refugee camp in northern Gaza on Tuesday led to hundreds of casualties, the Interior Ministry in the besieged enclave said.

Israel hit apartment blocks in a residential area of the Jabalia refugee camp, ministry spokesman Iyad al-Bozom told a press briefing.

The victims mostly included women and children, he said, adding that Israeli warplanes destroyed the entire residential square known as Block 6.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict since then, including 8,525 Palestinians and 1,538 Israelis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire, saying it will be a "surrender" to Hamas.

An Israeli blockade of the strip has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity, and water supplies, and reduced aid deliveries are unable to satisfy the needs of the over 2 million Palestinians there.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​