DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — A series of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals overnight, among them two young children who lost their lives while seeking refuge in a tent with their family, according to local medical officials on Sunday.
The attack occurred in the Muwasi area, a large tent settlement that shelters hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. Alongside the fatalities, the assault also left the children’s mother and one sibling injured, as reported by the Nasser Hospital nearby, where an eyewitness confirmed the presence of the victims’ bodies.
In a separate incident in the southern city of Rafah, located near the border with Egypt, four men were reported dead due to another strike, as per hospital documentation.
The Israeli military has yet to provide a comment regarding this latest round of attacks. Officials from Israel maintain that their military operations are aimed solely at militants and emphasize their efforts to minimize civilian casualties, yet continuous bombardments across Gaza often result in the loss of lives among women and children.
The ongoing conflict commenced when Hamas fighters launched an incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to approximately 1,200 fatalities, predominantly among civilians, and the abduction of around 250 individuals. Reports indicate that about 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with an estimated two-thirds believed to still be alive.
In retaliation, the Israeli military has conducted an extensive offensive that has reportedly claimed the lives of over 44,000 Palestinians, with more than half of the casualties being women and children, according to figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between militants and civilians among the fatalities. Israel claims it has eliminated over 17,000 militants, although it has not substantiated these figures.
The conflict has led to widespread devastation across the coastal enclave and forced 90% of its 2.3 million residents into displacement, often repeatedly. Many have sought refuge in overcrowded tent camps, where living conditions are deteriorating as the colder and wetter winter approaches.
Last week, Israel implemented a ceasefire with Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon, which has largely succeeded, but this agreement, facilitated by the United States and France, did not extend to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
For much of the past year, diplomatic efforts spearheaded by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt aimed to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza alongside the release of remaining hostages; however, these initiatives have stalled as Israel has dismissed Hamas’ demands for a comprehensive withdrawal from the region. The Biden administration has indicated an intent to renew efforts for a resolution during its final weeks in office.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to end the conflicts in the Middle East, although he has not specified how these aims will be accomplished. He had previously been a strong supporter of Israel and its strategies towards the Palestinians during his prior term.
