DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 42 individuals, including numerous children, according to reports from both hospitals and emergency response teams. Tensions escalated as health officials and Israel’s military exchanged accusations regarding evacuation orders for two hospitals located in the predominantly isolated northern region of Gaza.
The situation unfolded against the backdrop of stalled ceasefire discussions aimed at concluding nearly 15 months of conflict, set to resume in Qatar. Medical staff at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported that an airstrike in central Gaza claimed the lives of over a dozen women and children across several locations, including Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi, and Deir al-Balah. Dozens had already perished in the previous day’s violence across the region.
Survivor Abdul Rahman Al-Nabrisi recounted the traumatic experience of waking up to destruction, saying, “We found the whole house disintegrated” after strikes hit the Maghazi refugee camp. Later on Friday, officials indicated that another airstrike resulted in three fatalities in a vehicle located in Zawaida. The Civil Defense group, associated with the Hamas-led government, also reported that an airstrike in the Shijaiyah neighborhood near Gaza City killed seven people—including four children and a woman—while another strike led to two more deaths at Al-Samer junction.
Israel’s military stated it had undertaken numerous strikes against Hamas operational sites and command centers across the Gaza Strip. They urged civilians to evacuate central Gaza, warning of impending attacks in response to rocket fire directed toward Israel. The military mentioned that some projectiles originated from central and northern regions of Gaza, but no injuries were reported from these incidents.
Among those who lost their lives in the recent violence was freelance journalist Omar al-Derawi, who was found dead wearing a press vest. The Committee to Protect Journalists noted that over 130 Palestinian reporters have been killed since the conflict began. In Israel, air raid sirens were activated following missile launches reported from Yemen, prompting residents in Jerusalem and central Israel to seek shelter. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were reported from these attacks, which were claimed by the Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group in Yemen.
Regarding the situation of hospitals in northern Gaza, the Al-Awda Hospital stated that it received orders from Israel’s military for an immediate evacuation of staff and patients, although no specifics were given. A nurse from the Indonesian Hospital confirmed similar evacuation requests, reporting that they remained with 19 individuals, including eight patients, awaiting the arrival of ambulances. Israel’s military contended there was no intention to evacuate either hospital, asserting they relayed messages indicating it was unnecessary for the Indonesian facility.
Verification of the claims from both sides proved challenging due to the Israeli military’s stringent restrictions on Palestinian movements in Gaza and barring foreign journalists from the area throughout the conflict. The effect of the war on healthcare facilities has emerged as a contentious topic, given the severe damage inflicted upon the healthcare system. Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals as operational bases while claiming to take measures to safeguard medical facilities. During the conflict, the military has conducted operations in several hospitals, including Al-Awda and Indonesian.
On Friday, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk advised the Security Council that a report from his office indicated “at least 136 strikes on at least 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities in Gaza,” leading to substantial casualties among medical professionals and civilians. He urged both parties to ensure the protection of these essential facilities.
In Qatar, indirect negotiations for a ceasefire were scheduled to continue on Friday, following previous discussions that stalled. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office approved a delegation comprised of representatives from the Mossad, Shin Bet, and military leadership to proceed with these talks. However, the negotiations have faced repeated setbacks, while Netanyahu affirmed the commitment to continue operations against Hamas until the group is thoroughly dismantled, even as the organization remains adaptive and able to regroup after Israeli military maneuvers.
The ongoing conflict began with a Hamas-led offensive into Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, along with the abduction of around 250 others. Reports suggest that approximately 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least a third assumed to be deceased. In retaliation, Israel’s military actions have reportedly led to over 45,500 Palestinian deaths, with health ministries stating that women and children account for over half of those killed, although the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its records.
Israel asserts its military campaigns target combatants, attributing civilian casualties to Hamas’ tactics of operating within densely populated areas. They maintain that approximately 17,000 militants have been neutralized, though concrete evidence for these claims has not been presented. The war has resulted in far-reaching destruction, displacing about 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many multiple times, and with winter approaching, countless individuals seek refuge in makeshift shelters near the coastline.
