Israel Launches Airstrike on Jabalia

A series of devastating Israeli airstrikes on residential neighborhoods in northern Gaza has killed at least 48 people, according to the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia. Among the dead are at least 22 children.

The Israeli military declined to comment on the strikes, but late Tuesday evening had warned residents of Jabalia to evacuate. According to the military, Hamas infrastructure—including rocket launchers—was located in the area, making it a potential target.

On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out any cessation of hostilities. "There can be no ceasefire in Gaza," his office quoted him as saying. According to Netanyahu, the army is preparing for the next phase of the offensive and will "enter Gaza with massive force in the coming days to complete the mission—which means destroying Hamas."

The strikes on Jabalia came a day after Hamas released an Israeli-American hostage as part of a U.S.-brokered deal. At the same time, President Donald Trump was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

The conflict erupted in 2023, when militants linked to Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel. In response, the Israeli army launched a large-scale offensive that, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, has killed more than 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children. The ministry does not specify how many of the dead were civilians and how many were fighters.

Israel’s campaign has caused catastrophic damage to Gaza’s urban infrastructure and forced 90% of the population to flee their homes—often more than once.