Israel strikes a Gaza refugee camp as the war continues

Plus, the life of a young victim of gun violence and Canada's immigration plans [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the Israeli airstrike that hit a Gaza refugee camp, what life’s like for one of Toronto’s youngest gun violence victims and Canada’s new immigration plan. DON’T MISS Doaa AlBaz/AP Photo israel-hamas war [Israeli airstrikes have crushed apartments in a Gaza refugee camp]( Following a barrage of Israeli airstrikes Tuesday, rescuers clawed through the destruction of a Gaza refugee camp to pull men, women and children from the rubble, The Associated Press reports. The human toll was not immediately known, but the director of a nearby hospital where casualties were taken said hundreds of people were wounded or killed. Israel aggressively defended the attack, saying it targeted a senior Hamas military leader, destroyed a militant command centre and ruined an underground tunnel network. Neither side’s account could be independently confirmed. [As Israel continues its ground assault, here’s what we know about the risk to civilians in Gaza](. - On the ground: Gaza’s phone and internet connections have been cut off again. [Here’s how that threatens humanitarian aid](. - More: [The death toll of journalists in the Israel-Hamas conflict is rising]( as Israel tells news agencies it can’t guarantee reporters’ safety. - Across the globe: [Bolivia has severed diplomatic ties with Israel as Chile and Colombia recall their ambassadors](. - Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish’s take: [It’s time to break the vicious cycle of action and reaction](. Steve Russell/The Star the kids aren't all right [He was one of Toronto’s youngest gun violence victims — and he’s growing up in a city even more dangerous for youth]( When Devontae turned 11, his mother granted him a symbol of freedom: his own house key. With it, he could walk home from school alone or play basketball with his friends. But the freedom came at a time of growing concern about youth-involved violence in Toronto, Jennifer Pagliaro reports. And for his mother, the scar on the back of his head — the only physical reminder of a gunshot wound sustained when he was a baby — weighed heavy. [As the city becomes more dangerous for young people, how can they feel safe?]( - By the numbers: The average age of people involved in gun violence in the city is now 20 years old, down drastically from 25 only only a few years ago, according to Toronto police. - Go deeper: A seminal provincial government report on the roots of youth violence published in 2008 documented first-hand experience, research and ways to tackle the crisis of violence. But little has been done to implement the recommendations. Canadian Press/Darren Calabrese immigration [Canada’s immigration planning will now take into account housing, health care and infrastructure]( Addressing concerns over Canada’s capacity to meet immigration targets, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on Tuesday that the federal government will start considering housing, health care and infrastructure planning when determining immigration targets. A new action plan for immigration focuses on improving the newcomer experience, better aligning immigration programs with labour market needs and developing a growth plan with provinces and municipalities, Nicholas Keung reports. [Here’s why critics aren’t impressed](. - Context: Ottawa has been under immense pressure to respond to concerns over increasing the annual immigration target to some 500,000 permanent residents amid an affordable-housing crisis and a surging cost of living. [Here’s why national polls point to a decline in support for immigration](. - More: Canada’s “leaky bucket” of immigration? [More newcomers are choosing to leave because they have options](. [Smart Money newsletter launch] Get expert help with your money. If you’re looking for advice you can trust when it comes to managing your finances, you might like the Star’s new Smart Money newsletter, [sponsored by Fidelity](. Every week, Smart Money will break down what you need to know to make, save and manage your money. [Sign up for free here](. WHAT ELSE Jewish students at York University are [sounding the alarm over increasing antisemitism on campus](. Among other curriculum changes, [the Ford government will mandate Holocaust education in high school](. [Deloitte has been fined $1.59 million by Ontario regulators]( after some employees altered computer clocks to “backdate” audits. More than $900 billion in mortgages are set to renew in the next three years. [There is an increased risk of credit losses, according to RBC](. Many are heartbroken over Buffy Sainte-Marie, [but we must remember what she gave us](. [A woman was stabbed after chasing a man who stole her purse from a Toronto salon]( police say. You can’t outrun social issues by moving further and further away from the city centre. [Like it or not, social collapse is coming to your backyard](. The TTC was going off the rails [long before the probe into its CEO](. Blue Jays great Devon White won his second World Series 30 years ago. [He also changed my life, Stephanie MacLellan writes](. This player was involved in a tragic on-ice death. [Now he’s being targeted with racist attacks online](. POV Canadian Press/Justin Tang [Did Justin Trudeau fall into a Conservative trap with the carbon levy climbdown?]( CLOSE-UP Drew Angerer/Getty Images WASHINGTON, D.C.: Protestors calling for a ceasefire in Gaza raise their hands during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Tuesday. Blinken and Austin both testified at the hearing on budget requests, which includes aid money for Israel and Ukraine.  Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_203003). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. 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