DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Overnight Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 22 individuals, including five children, according to officials from the Palestinian health sector. This incident occurred while Gaza’s small Christian community was observing a pre-Christmas Mass.
In a rare gesture, Israeli authorities permitted Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the leader of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, to conduct the Mass amidst the constant hum of Israeli drones operating in the area. One of the most devastating strikes targeted a school in Gaza City that was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals, claiming at least eight lives, among them three children. The Israeli military indicated that their attack was aimed at Hamas militants believed to be using the school for cover.
Another strike in the central city of Deir al-Balah late on Saturday took the lives of at least eight people, including three women and two children, as confirmed by local health authorities. This attack also targeted an alleged Islamic Jihad militant. Additionally, another six individuals were reported killed in various strikes on Sunday. A relative, Noman Abu Samra, expressed despair as he searched through the rubble for children still trapped inside their home. A group of children watched from a nearby window in horror.
For over 14 months, Israeli forces have been conducting continuous strikes in Gaza, claiming that their targeted operations focus solely on militants who allegedly conceal themselves among civilian populations. However, these airstrikes often result in civilian casualties, predominantly affecting women and children. Efforts towards a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas have generated some optimism; however, substantial challenges remain unresolved.
During the Mass celebrated at Holy Family Church in Gaza City, dozens of worshipers lent their support to the occasion as Cardinal Pizzaballa encouraged them to remain hopeful, stating, “All the world, not only the Christian world, is with you. The war will end, and we will rebuild.” His visit coincided with Pope Francis’s recent criticisms of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, emphasizing the plight of children affected by the violence.
The Pope called for a ceasefire and reiterated his calls for an investigation into claims that Israeli strikes in Gaza may constitute genocide. This viewpoint has been mirrored by organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, with the International Court of Justice currently exploring genocide claims filed against Israel by South Africa. In response, Israel maintains that it is engaged solely in warfare against Hamas, which it holds responsible for initiating the conflict.
The current cycle of violence escalated on October 7, 2023, when militants affiliated with Hamas invaded southern Israel, leading to approximately 1,200 casualties, mostly among civilians, with around 250 individuals kidnapped. It is estimated that around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with many reported as deceased. Israel’s retaliatory strikes, including extensive bombardments and ground operations, have resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian fatalities, predominantly impacting women and children as per Gaza’s Health Ministry statistics.
The ongoing military operations have inflicted massive destruction and have displaced roughly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, forcing many into inadequate tent camps along the coastal region as the winter months approach. Since October, Israel has focused its military efforts in northern Gaza, notorious for its isolation and devastation, prompting a mass exodus as people flee in response to military evacuation orders with minimal humanitarian relief allowed into the area.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military unit responsible for civilian affairs in Gaza, COGAT, stated that they facilitated the evacuation of over 100 patients and caregivers from hospitals in northern Gaza, which are struggling to function amid ongoing conflict. Contrarily, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital claimed that Israeli forces had ordered an evacuation and that shelling conditions remained perilous, while the military later denied any such orders.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, violence persisted as militants shot and killed a member of the Palestinian security forces in the tense town of Jenin, injuring two others in the process. In response to the violence, the Western-backed Palestinian Authority has initiated a rare crackdown in the region this month, depicting the ongoing unease within the territory.
The Palestinian Authority holds limited administrative power in specific areas of the West Bank, a territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War, which Palestinians envision to form the core of their future state.
