Israeli airstrikes in Gaza claimed the lives of at least 12 Palestinians on New Year's Day, marking a grim continuation of the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. The fatalities, which included women and children, underscored the relentless toll of the war as efforts to secure a ceasefire remain elusive.
A strike on the Jabaliya area in northern Gaza, one of the most heavily destroyed regions since Israel's October offensive, resulted in seven deaths, including a woman and four children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry reported that at least a dozen others were wounded in the attack.
In the Bureij refugee camp, another strike overnight killed two individuals, including a child, according to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted militants who had fired rockets from the area. In Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, three more were killed in another airstrike, with local hospitals confirming the fatalities.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, has led to catastrophic human and material losses on both sides. Hamas's initial attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of around 250 individuals, many of whom remain in captivity.
Israel's retaliatory air and ground campaign has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The war has displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents, leaving hundreds of thousands in makeshift shelters amidst harsh winter conditions.
The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with displaced families relying on sporadic aid distributions for survival. Footage from Deir al-Balah showed long lines of children waiting for scarce food rations. The reliance on charity kitchens has grown, but their capacity is strained due to limited aid and skyrocketing prices.
The Israeli military maintains that its strikes target Hamas militants, asserting that civilian casualties occur because militants operate within densely populated residential areas. Hamas has not provided an independent tally of militant casualties, while the Israeli military has claimed to have killed thousands of Hamas fighters during the conflict.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire, led by American and Arab mediators, have faltered amid entrenched positions. Hamas has demanded an end to hostilities and a long-term truce, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until "total victory" is achieved.
