Israeli forces launched an airstrike targeting a residential home in the Shati refugee camp, located west of northern Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals. Several others sustained injuries in the attack, which caused widespread destruction in one of Gaza’s most densely populated areas.
The strike struck a home believed to be sheltering civilians, including women and children. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and panic as rescuers and neighbors scrambled through the rubble, attempting to locate survivors trapped beneath the debris. Images from the site showed flattened structures and wounded individuals being carried to ambulances, some in critical condition.
The Shati refugee camp, also known as Beach Camp, has long been a densely packed area, housing thousands of displaced Palestinian families. Its narrow alleys and tightly clustered buildings leave little protection for residents when bombardments occur. In recent weeks, the area has seen repeated targeting as part of the ongoing military campaign, leading to mounting civilian casualties and mass displacement.
Emergency crews worked into the night, using limited equipment and facing enormous challenges due to damaged infrastructure. Medics warned that the number of casualties could rise, as some injured were in serious condition and others remained unaccounted for. Makeshift medical facilities, already overwhelmed by previous strikes, struggled to cope with the influx of patients, operating under conditions of severe shortages in medicine, fuel, and clean water.
Locals reported a loud explosion that shook the area just after nightfall. The blast was followed by smoke plumes rising over the camp, casting an eerie glow visible from other parts of the city. Families poured into the streets in fear of further strikes, some clutching their children and searching desperately for missing loved ones.
Survivors described the horror of being jolted awake by the explosion, finding their homes partially collapsed and loved ones injured or buried. Many have taken refuge in nearby schools and public buildings, which offer only minimal safety. As night fell, some families lit fires in the open to stay warm, surrounded by the ruins of their community.
This latest strike adds to the growing toll of the conflict, with escalating bombardments causing widespread devastation across the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm over the impact on civilians, especially in crowded camps like Shati, where families have limited means of escape or protection.
The bombardment has heightened concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over two million people are facing extreme shortages of food, electricity, and medical supplies. Aid workers warn that continued targeting of civilian areas is pushing the enclave closer to complete collapse.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians continue to grow, as pressure mounts on all sides to de-escalate the violence. However, with no end in sight to the hostilities, residents of Gaza remain in a state of constant fear, bracing for further attacks. The bombing of the Shati camp has become another grim chapter in a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
