DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — On Wednesday, officials reported that Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 12 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, primarily affecting women and children, as the ongoing conflict extends into the new year.
A strike targeted a residence in the Jabaliya region of northern Gaza, an area that has been severely affected and is largely isolated. Reports from Gaza’s Health Ministry indicate that the attack claimed the lives of seven individuals, including a woman and four children.
The Israeli military asserted that the strikes aimed to eliminate Hamas fighters. Additionally, an overnight strike in the densely populated Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of a woman and a child, according to information from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the victims were received.
“In this situation, are you celebrating? Enjoy as we pass away. For a year and a half, we have been dying,” lamented a man carrying the lifeless body of a child amidst the flashing lights of emergency responders.
The Israeli military claimed that militants had launched rockets at Israel from the Bureij area earlier, prompting a targeted response against a militant.
In a separate incident, three people were killed in a strike within Khan Younis, as reported by the Nasser Hospital and the European Hospital that processed the casualties.
The current war traces back to an assault by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the hostage-taking of around 250 individuals. It is estimated that about 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least one-third believed to be deceased.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning, stating that Hamas would face unprecedented consequences should it fail to release the hostages and cease its aggression towards Israel.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the ongoing military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 45,000 Palestinians, with women and children constituting more than half of the deceased. The ministry has not specified how many casualties were militants.
The Israeli military argues that its operations are intended to target militants while holding Hamas responsible for civilian casualties due to their combatants operating in residential areas. The Israeli army estimates it has killed around 17,000 militants but has not provided supporting evidence for this claim.
The ongoing war has caused massive devastation and led to the displacement of approximately 90% of Gaza’s population, which numbers around 2.3 million, often forcing them to evacuate multiple times.
With winter showing its effects, hundreds of thousands of displaced residents are making do in tents along the coast, while temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) at night. Tragically, at least six infants and one adult have succumbed to hypothermia, as reported by the Health Ministry.
A significant number of those seeking refuge in central Gaza are dependent on charitable kitchens for food, given the ongoing blockades and soaring prices. Video footage captured in Deir al-Balah on Wednesday showed a long line of children awaiting rice, which was the only meal available at the charity kitchen that day.
“Some kitchens shut down due to lack of aid, and many others can barely provide enough food,” stated Umm Adham Shaheen, who has been displaced from Gaza City.
In efforts aimed at establishing a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages, American and Arab mediators have been working for nearly a year, yet these attempts have faced repeated setbacks. Hamas has called for a long-term ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on continuing military operations until achieving a “total victory.”
In a separate political development, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defense minister, resigned from parliament on Wednesday after having been dismissed nearly two months earlier in a dispute with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He criticized a proposed law that would reinforce controversial exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox men, deeming it detrimental to military needs and national security.
Gallant’s unexpected firing in November led to widespread protests across Israel, as he had advocated for diplomatic negotiations designed to recover hostages, while Netanyahu favored intensified military actions against Hamas. Following Gallant’s resignation, Katz, a staunch ally of Netanyahu, took over his position.
In 2024, more than 82,000 Israelis relocated abroad, while 33,000 immigrated to Israel, according to information released by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Additionally, about 23,000 Israelis returned after extended periods overseas.
This marks the second consecutive year of net population exits, a phenomenon that is uncommon in a nation that actively promotes Jewish immigration. Many Israelis have opted to move abroad to escape the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about a potential “brain drain” in critical sectors such as medicine and technology.
Comparatively, there was a decline in the number of people immigrating to Israel by 15,000 in 2023.
On the last day of Hanukkah, hostages released from Gaza, alongside their relatives, reiterated calls for a peace agreement that would facilitate the return of those still held captive, asserting, “Until they come back, we will never truly be able to move forward,” stated relative Yuval Haran.
In another recent development, the Palestinian Authority announced a suspension of Al Jazeera’s operations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, accusing the network of broadcasting incendiary and misleading content.
Although Israel had previously requested Al Jazeera to cease activities in the West Bank, the directive was not rigorously enforced. The media outlet, alongside others, has been reporting on the Palestinian Authority’s military clampdown in Jenin, where PA forces have recently engaged in clashes with local militants, marking one of the most significant armed confrontations among Palestinians in years.
