10:04 a.m. ET, April 17, 2024
People in northern Gaza say 2-day Israeli operation led to arrests and destruction
People living in the area of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza said Israeli military vehicles began an operation there on Monday afternoon, firing shots and rounds of artillery shelling.
Residents told CNN that Israeli forces surrounded three schools, including one — Mahdiyya Al-Shawwa — early Tuesday morning where hundreds of people have been sheltering. Using loudspeakers, they ordered people to leave the schools and detained dozens of men, including some elderly and teenagers over the age of 15.
CNN has asked the Israel Defense Forces for comment on the purpose and results of the operation, which, according to local residents, ended late on Tuesday.
One man, Abu Malek Shibat, said he and his family had returned to Beit Hanoun after being displaced to other areas of Gaza. Shibat insisted he would stay in Beit Hanoun even if it meant putting a tent over the ruins of his house.
A woman, Amani Naseer, told CNN that she and her children were taking shelter at a school in Beit Hanoun, but Israeli forces “have destroyed the entire area,” adding, “What can we do? Where are we supposed to go?” Her house had already been destroyed, she said, but she recovered some belongings and clothes from under the rubble.
“There is no Beit Hanoun; Beit Hanoun is no longer standing,” she said.
An elderly woman who was sheltering in one of the schools spoke to CNN as she was fleeing the area. She said Israeli soldiers came in the middle of the night and arrested several men and women.
Abhinav Thawait is a globe-trotting correspondent with a passion for international affairs. With a background in international relations, he offers a global perspective on the most pressing issues around the world. Abhinav’s curiosity takes his to the far corners of the earth, where he seeks to share untold stories and diverse viewpoints.
