The Israeli military on Friday escalated ground operations in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza City, unleashing intense shelling that resulted in heavy casualties and mass displacement, according to both Israeli and Palestinian sources.
Local witnesses reported that Israeli tanks moved into eastern Shuja’iyya under the cover of ongoing airstrikes, leaving scores of residents dead or injured. Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, confirmed the high number of casualties and noted that rescue teams were unable to reach many of the wounded due to the relentless bombardment.
In a statement, the Israeli army said it was expanding its operations in Shuja’iyya to bolster security, claiming to have killed several militants and destroyed military targets, including a Hamas command center. The army added that safe evacuation corridors had been established, although combat operations were still underway.
The offensive triggered another wave of displacement, with thousands of residents fleeing their homes in search of safety. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic, deafening explosions, and nighttime skies lit by fire.
According to Gaza health officials, at least 1,249 Palestinians have been killed and 3,022 injured since Israel resumed strikes on March 18. The overall death toll since the outbreak of the war in October 2023 now stands at 50,609, with over 115,000 people injured.
