Residents of Nuseirat in central Gaza walk past damaged buildings after Israeli forces withdrew from parts of the area. The withdrawal followed a ground operation during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on November 29, 2024. Reuters
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight and on Friday resulted in the deaths of at least 40 Palestinians, according to medical reports. The strikes, which targeted areas in northern Gaza, included the Nuseirat refugee camp and a house in Beit Lahiya. Medics reported retrieving 19 bodies from Nuseirat and confirmed 10 fatalities in Beit Lahiya due to an airstrike on a residential home. Additional casualties were recorded in both northern and southern Gaza.
Israeli tanks advanced into northern and western Nuseirat on Thursday but retreated from northern areas by Friday. However, their presence continued in the camp’s western parts. Residents described being unable to seek help due to the restricted movement of emergency teams, which the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service attributed to ongoing military operations.
In the aftermath of the strikes, survivors returned to inspect their damaged homes, some discovering the bodies of loved ones. Medics and grieving families covered the deceased with blankets and shrouds, transporting them on stretchers. One man tearfully apologized to his late wife as her body lay on the ground.
Two Palestinian women gaze out from the ruins of a destroyed building in Nuseirat, central Gaza, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces after a ground operation. The scene reflects the devastation caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on November 29, 2024. Reuters
Among the dead was Ahmed Al-Kahlout, the head of the Intensive Care Unit at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, killed by an Israeli drone. The hospital, one of three in northern Gaza, is barely functional due to severe shortages of supplies and medical staff. Health officials stated that many staff members had been detained or expelled.
Palestinian sources, including Hamas and the official news agency, claimed that two Israeli strikes in Beit Lahiya over the past 24 hours killed 70 people, though this figure has not been independently verified. The Israeli military did not comment on specific operations in the area but reiterated that their actions aim to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping and launching attacks.
Palestinian men gather inside a destroyed building in Nuseirat, central Gaza, after Israeli forces withdrew from the area. The withdrawal followed a ground operation during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on November 29, 2024. Reuters
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for an immediate ceasefire, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon to force residents from their homes. The Israeli army confirmed its operations in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and the Jabalia refugee camp, stating their objective was to neutralize Hamas strongholds.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza showed potential progress as a Hamas delegation prepared to meet Egyptian officials in Cairo. The talks come amid international efforts led by the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to end hostilities. While a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah recently took effect, negotiations in Gaza remain stalled.
A Palestinian woman stands near damaged buildings in Nuseirat, central Gaza, visibly emotional after Israeli forces withdrew from the area. The withdrawal followed a ground operation amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas on November 29, 2024. Reuters
Gaza officials report that the ongoing Israeli campaign has claimed over 44,300 lives and displaced nearly the entire population. Large sections of the region lie in ruins, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
