An Israeli airstrike on Thursday targeted a police station in the northern Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 44 people, including civilians, as violence in the region intensified. The airstrike struck Jabalia, a densely populated area, where two Israeli missiles hit a police facility near a busy market, causing significant destruction and leaving dozens injured.
According to local health authorities, the Israeli military claimed the police station served as a command center for Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, responsible for planning attacks against Israeli forces. However, Palestinian groups have denied these allegations, stating that civilian infrastructure is not used for military purposes.
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The initial airstrike in Jabalia killed at least 10 people, while further Israeli air raids across the Gaza Strip on the same day led to the deaths of at least 34 more individuals, raising the total death toll to 44. Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed that many of the victims were civilians. The airstrikes have severely impacted Gaza’s infrastructure, which has already suffered significant damage during the ongoing conflict.
In a separate incident, the Durra Children’s Hospital in Gaza City was hit by an Israeli missile, damaging the intensive care unit and destroying the hospital’s solar panels. Although no deaths were reported at the hospital, the loss of a key healthcare facility has exacerbated the crisis in Gaza, where hospitals are struggling to treat a growing number of casualties.
The Israeli military reported that one of its soldiers was killed during operations in northern Gaza, and two others, including a senior officer, sustained serious injuries. The military offensive by Israel, launched in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has led to widespread devastation across the Gaza Strip. Since the ceasefire collapsed in March 2024, over 1,900 Palestinians have died, many of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials.
Additionally, the conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, as Israel continues to enforce a buffer zone around the territory. The humanitarian situation remains critical, with international efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States failing to establish a lasting ceasefire.
Since the start of Israel’s military response, more than 51,300 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health authorities. The initial Hamas-led attack in October 2023 resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and the kidnapping of 251 hostages, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian factions.
