Strike on Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza: IDF names main target

The Israeli army continues its ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip. On the evening of October 31, the IDF struck the Jabaliya refugee camp where militants were hiding.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on October 28 that the IDF had launched a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, thus moving to the second phase of the war.

Refugee camp hit

On the evening of October 31, the Israeli army attacked the Jabaliya refugee camp. The IDF noted that they hit a multi-story building in which many terrorists had barricaded themselves. It should be noted that this building is located near a school, a medical center and government offices.

Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus said that the main goal of the attack on the camp was the elimination of one of the senior Hamas commanders , Ibrahim Biari . He was a key figure in the planning and execution of the October 7 attack.

As a result of more than one airstrike, according to Conricus, several dozen Hamas militants were killed in the “huge underground tunnel complex.”

The IDF claims that the strike was carried out between the buildings, directly on the underground tunnels, but when they fell, the buildings around them also collapsed. This, says Conricus, could not be avoided.

What is Jabaliya Refugee Camp?

It is located in the northern part of Gaza. It is the largest of eight refugee camps in the city. According to the UN, as of July 2023, 116 thousand Palestinian refugees were registered there. Refugees began setting up a camp here after the 1948 war. It covers an area of 1.4 square kilometers and is built up mainly with residential buildings. Jabaliya has 26 schools, a food distribution center, two health centers, a library and seven water wells.

Meanwhile, Hamas says that the attack on the Jabaliya camp killed at least 47 people , including 25 civilians.

War between Israel and Hamas: latest news

• The Israeli army attacked dozens of military targets at night. In total, since the beginning of the attack by Palestinian terrorists, the IDF has destroyed 11 thousand such targets.
• Over the past 24 hours, the IDF discovered a militant vehicle with anti-tank missiles heading towards Israeli ground forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip. He was also hit by a fighter jet.
• On October 31, the Yemeni military attacked Israel with missiles and drones, thus officially declaring war.