Palestinian families arrived in Gaza City after evacuating their homes in the Jabalia area on October 6, 2024, after the Israeli army ordered people to evacuate the area north of Gaza. AFP
"The troops of the 401st Brigade and the 460th Brigade have successfully encircled the area and are currently continuing to operate in the area," the military said in a statement.
It cited intelligence suggesting the presence of Hamas fighters in the area of Jabalia, "as well as efforts by Hamas to rebuild its operational capabilities in the area."
In recent months, Israeli troops have returned to several areas across Gaza where they had previously conducted operations, only to find Hamas fighters rebuilding their efforts.
Gaza civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal said multiple strikes rocked Jabaliya overnight, with many casualties.
Simultaneously, WAFA news agency reported that six Palestinian citizens were killed and several others injured on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks on north, centre, and south Gaza amid the Israeli military incursion into eastern Jabalia that has trapped dozens of families.
Local sources told WAFA that Israeli occupation forces surrounded families in their homes and in schools designated for sheltering displaced families, while artillery shells targeted residential areas in Jabalia, causing widespread panic and destruction.
Drones were also deployed, firing upon civilian homes in Jabalia. Among the fatalities is journalist Hassan Hamad, who was killed when his house was struck during the bombardment.
The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since 7 October 2023 has so far resulted in 41,825 documented Palestinian fatalities, with an additional 96,910 individuals sustaining injuries, the majority of whom are women and children.
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