Israeli Forces Intensify Attacks on Jabalia, Targeting Schools and Shelters
In recent escalations, the Israeli occupation has intensified its artillery and air strikes on the town of Jabalia and the Jabalia refugee camp, directly targeting schools and shelters filled with displaced people. These aggressive operations have resulted in numerous casualties and injuries. Continuous bombardment has hampered the efforts of rescue teams, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and leading to widespread displacement.
Historical Significance and Demographics of Jabalia Camp
Jabalia is one of the largest refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, located in the northeast of Gaza City, near a village of the same name, and about one kilometer from the main Gaza-Jaffa road. Established after the Nakba of 1948, the camp initially housed over 35,000 Palestinian refugees. By 2023, its population had grown to 116,011 registered Palestinian refugees, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Known for its severe population density, Jabalia camp is a significant site in the history of Palestinian resistance, notably as the birthplace of the first Palestinian intifada, the “Intifada of the Stones,” which began on December 8, 1987.
Historical Attacks on Jabalia Camp
Over the decades, Jabalia camp has endured numerous massacres and attacks by Israeli forces. One of the most prolonged and devastating assaults occurred in 2004, when the camp was bombed for 71 consecutive days, resulting in the deaths of 100 Palestinians. In 2005, an Israeli strike on a Hamas military parade in Jabalia killed 19 Palestinians, including two children. Another significant attack took place in 2009, when the Al-Fakhura school was bombed, resulting in over 40 Palestinian deaths. This was followed by a 2014 attack on an UNRWA school, which killed 20 Palestinians.
Recent Israeli Aggression on Gaza
Since the onset of the latest Israeli offensive on Gaza on October 7, Jabalia has suffered severe casualties. On October 9, 2023, a residential block near the Indonesian Hospital was destroyed, leading to 400 Palestinian casualties. Another massacre occurred on November 18, 2023, at the Al-Fakhura school, where 200 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces. Despite the relentless attacks and the blockade preventing the delivery of aid and medical supplies, it is estimated that 805,000 Palestinians remain in the Gaza and Northern Gaza Governorates, struggling to survive under dire conditions.
