Gaza: Jabalia 'wiped off the map' in Israel strikes, says locals

Jabalia: Locals account from Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp suggested more destruction and bloodshed after a fresh Israeli attack in the region. Israel ran a massive bombardment campaign in Jabalia in recent weeks, which was as part of ground operations in northern Gaza, Agence France-Presse reported.

This was in contrast to Israel's earlier statement that Hamas militants were completely ousted from the region.

AFP reported that in recent days, its correspondents have witnessed many Palestinians returning back to their homes despite the fights still going on. Men, women and children were seen walking down streets full of concrete debris where their houses stood. The people are trying to save what was left there of their belongings. Many carried their belongings on donkey carts, while others walked with beds and mattresses on their heads. Many say they have no other places to live other than their homes, which are destroyed here.

According to United Nations figures, the area once housed 1,00,000 people and was bustling with activity, AFP says. One source from the ground told AFP that Jabalia has been wiped off the map.

The war was sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

It was the lightning attack Hamas ran inside the Israel territories that triggered the war on October 7 last year, and the Israel invasion of Gaza reached its 8th month. As per records, the Hamas attack killed 1,189 Israelis that day, and the armed group took 252 hostages. Hamas has released some so far, but 121 hostages are still with the group. This includes 37 people which the Israeli army claims are dead.