At least 30 Palestinians were martyred and dozens more injured early Friday morning following a series of Israeli airstrikes targeting residential areas in Beit Lahia and the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The strikes, described as particularly intense, hit more than ten civilian homes, many of them inhabited, leaving widespread destruction and numerous bodies trapped under the rubble. Rescue teams have been struggling to reach affected areas due to severe damage to roads and infrastructure.

Medical sources on the ground confirmed that the death toll is likely to rise, with many still missing and feared buried beneath collapsed buildings. Emergency services are facing significant challenges in carrying out rescue operations.

This latest escalation is part of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023. According to health officials, the conflict has so far resulted in over 173,000 Palestinian casualties, including a high proportion of women and children, in addition to more than 11,000 missing persons. The humanitarian situation in the territory continues to deteriorate rapidly.