By Qais Abu Samra and Mustafa Haboush
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Israeli army on Thursday bombed Palestinian homes in the Al-Shati and Jabalia refugee camps, leaving dozens of people killed and wounded.
Israeli aircraft continued to bomb Palestinian buildings, homes and facilities in all areas of the Gaza Strip, according to an Anadolu correspondent.
The Al-Shati and Jabalia camps witnessed intensified bombing operations by Israeli forces, which left dozens of Palestinians killed and injured, according to reports.
In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
*Writing by Ikram Kouachi