Israel’s 3-week onslaught in northern Gaza has killed over 820 people, says official

GAZA CITY, Palestine

More than 820 Palestinians have so far been killed in a 22-day Israeli military operation in northern Gaza, which Gaza officials describe as a "campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing," the Gaza Government Media Office said Saturday.

“The Israeli army has killed over 820 Palestinians within the span of just over three weeks in northern Gaza,” Ismail Thawabta, director of the Gaza Government Media Office, said in a statement.

“Dozens of bodies lie in the streets and inside destroyed homes, as countless Palestinians remain trapped in an area under relentless bombardment,” he added.

According to Thawabta, the humanitarian crisis is worsening as local health services are collapsing under Israeli military blockades, cutting off access to hospitals and medical care.

On Friday, Israeli forces stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few remaining medical centers serving the area, detaining medical staff, injured individuals, and patients within the facility.

“The health situation in northern Gaza is dire, with civilians cut off from essential care and facilities, while aid workers are prevented from reaching the injured,” Thawabta added, saying that shelters, neighborhoods, and infrastructure are being systematically targeted.

Earlier Saturday, Gaza’s Health Ministry confirmed that Israeli forces had detained medical personnel, patients, and injured individuals at Kamal Adwan Hospital.

Reports from the World Health Organization indicate that it has lost contact with staff at the hospital, which remains isolated following the Israeli incursion.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza since an attack last year by Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

Nearly 43,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 100,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi