Tension Escalates In Gaza As Israel’s Airstrikes Claim Over 195 Lives In Refugee Camp

EKO HOT BLOG reports that amidst escalating tensions in the Gaza Strip, an increasing number of foreign nationals are making preparations to depart the region.

This comes in the wake of an announcement by the Gaza Strip’s Hamas-led government, reporting a tragic loss of at least 195 Palestinian lives due to Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp.

These airstrikes have raised concerns among U.N. human rights officials, who suggest that they may potentially constitute war crimes

According to reports from official sources, at least 320 foreign citizens on an initial list of 500, as well as dozens of severely injured Gazans, crossed into Egypt on Wednesday under a deal among Israel, Egypt and Hamas.

Passport holders from Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, the United Kingdom and the United States were in the evacuation.

Gaza border officials said the border crossing would reopen on Thursday so more foreigners could exit. A diplomatic source said some 7,500 foreign passport holders would leave Gaza over about two weeks.

Pressing an offensive against Hamas militants, Israel has bombed Gaza by land, sea and air in its campaign to wipe out the Islamist group after its cross-border rampage into southern Israel on Oct. 7. Israel said Hamas killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 hostages.

Loud explosions were heard in the early hours of Thursday around the al-Quds hospital in densely populated Gaza City, the Palestinian Red Crescent said. Israeli authorities have previously warned the hospital to evacuate immediately, which U.N. officials have said is impossible to do without endangering patients.

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