Israel renews massive strikes on northern Gaza, thousands displaced again

GAZA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes bombed several areas in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, while fierce clashes erupted between the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israeli forces carrying out fresh operations in those areas.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israel carried out heavy air and artillery strikes on residential buildings and agricultural lands in Jabalia refugee camp, its nearby Jabalia city, the Beit Lahia city, and some neighborhoods in Gaza City.

Gaza Civil Defense Spokesman Mahmoud Basel said in a statement that Israeli forces have intensified strikes on those residential homes where civilians remained inside.

He said casualties were reported from Jabalia and nearby areas targeted by the Israeli strikes but "it is difficult for our teams to reach them due to the intensity of gunfire."

Meanwhile, Israeli tanks and military vehicles went deeper from the eastern outskirts to advance a new assault on northern Gaza, according to unnamed Palestinian sources.

The advancement came after fierce clashes since last night between members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Israeli forces in the area.

Since Sunday morning, the Israeli strikes have prompted a large number of Palestinian families to flee westward, carrying belongings on foot or cramped in vehicles.

"The bombing is everywhere," said Hajja Zuhriya Salman, who clenched a bag and several plastic bags in the streets. Escaping from their home in a hurry, her grandchildren walked barefoot.

"We are escaping from death to death, and there is no safe place in Gaza," she lamented.

"It is the third time for me to leave home since the beginning of the war, and we hope to end the war as soon as possible, which has been, in more than 200 days, a nightmare for us."

On Saturday, the Israeli army called on all residents and displaced persons in Jabalia and the surrounding areas to immediately head to shelters west of Gaza City, warning them against a nighttime operation targeting Hamas elements in the area.

The Israeli army started the operation in Jabalia based on intelligence information regarding Hamas's attempts to reassemble its infrastructure and activists in the area.

It said in a statement on Saturday that before the entry of its forces, fighter jets belonging to the Israeli Air Force and additional aircraft targeted about 30 "terrorist" targets in the area and killed many Hamas "terrorists."

In a separate statement on Sunday, the army said it continued operations in the Zaitoun area in northern Gaza, and during the past day, a number of "terrorists" were killed in close combat and aerial raids while their weapons and infrastructure were dismantled.

The Al-Qassam Brigades said Sunday that its elements "target the invading enemy forces east of Jabalia camp in northern Gaza with mortar shells."

It said in another statement that its fighters succeeded in shooting down an anti-tank missile through a drone at a Merkava tank east of the camp, while two other tanks were targeted with "Al-Yassin 105" shells.

The Israeli military said Saturday that its operations were continuing in specific areas in eastern Rafah and on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, having dismantled a number of tunnel openings and rocket launchers.

It also identified and eliminated 10 armed Hamas members leaving an infrastructure.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.