Middle East and Africa | Darkening days

The pace of Israel’s war in Gaza far exceeds previous conflicts

But Israel’s generals think they could be fighting Hamas in Gaza for a year

Palestinians search for casualties a day after Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp
Image: Reuters
|JERUSALEM

THE WORLD shook, and then the ground opened. On October 31st Israeli jets carried out air strikes in Jabalia, a refugee camp in northern Gaza. A witness reported hearing multiple explosions, which left huge craters. Videos from the site showed apocalyptic scenes: buildings crumpled and canted at odd angles, dead bodies being pulled from the rubble. Dozens were killed. The Israeli army said it was targeting the underground headquarters of a Hamas commander, Ibrahim Biari, and militants with him, and that much of the damage was caused when tunnels collapsed.

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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline "Darkening days"

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