Hamas says 7 hostages killed in Israeli strikes on Jabalia camp in Gaza

3 foreign passport holders among fatalities, according to Hamas’ armed wing

GAZA CITY:

Palestinian group Hamas said Wednesday seven hostages were killed in Tuesday’s Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza City.

"Seven civilian hostages were killed in the Jabalia massacre, including three foreign passport holders,” the Qassam Brigades, the group’s armed wing, said in a statement.

A series of Israeli airstrikes on the camp on Tuesday led to hundreds of casualties, according to the Interior Ministry in the besieged enclave.

Read also: Israeli air strike kills 50 at Gaza refugee camp

Most of the victims were women and children, it said, adding that Israeli warplanes destroyed the entire residential square known as Block 6.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the Palestinian resistance group Hamas launched a surprise cross-border offensive against Israel on Oct. 7.

The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 8,796, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said.