Palestinians examine the aftermath of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip, on December 15, 2024. The attack occurred amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as seen in this screengrab from a video. Reuters
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have claimed the lives of at least 53 Palestinians, including a journalist and several rescue workers. The Israeli military confirmed its operations, stating that air and ground forces in northern Gaza had killed dozens of militants and captured others. The strikes, however, also caused significant civilian casualties, drawing international condemnation.
One of the deadliest attacks occurred when an Israeli airstrike hit the Civil Emergency Centre in Nuseirat, located in the central Gaza Strip. Ahmed Al-Louh, a video journalist for Al Jazeera, was killed while working at the scene. Five other individuals also lost their lives, including several members of the emergency services. In addition to this, another strike on a nearby house in Nuseirat resulted in the deaths of five people, including children.
Al Jazeera condemned the attack, emphasizing that Al-Louh was performing his duties as a journalist. The Israeli military, on the other hand, defended the strike, claiming it targeted militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, who allegedly operated from the Nuseirat office. The network has previously criticized such accusations against its journalists, especially when no evidence has been provided to support them.
In another tragic incident, the head of the civil emergency service in Nuseirat, Nedal Abu Hjayyer, was also killed during the attack. Zaki Emadeldeen, a member of the civil emergency service, spoke emotionally about the tragedy, saying the workers were present at the site to serve the people, as they worked around the clock to assist in the crisis.
Meanwhile, in other parts of Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit a group of Hamas-linked men who were protecting aid trucks near Gaza City. Although several were injured, the exact number remains unclear.
In the southern Gaza region, an airstrike on a shelter housing displaced families in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, including women and children. Medics confirmed the tragedy, noting the shelter was filled with people seeking safety from the ongoing violence.
Further south, Israeli forces besieged families taking refuge in Khalil Aweida school in Beit Hanoun. During the raid, several people were killed and others injured, while many men were detained by the army. The military reported that it had struck and captured several militants in Beit Hanoun, but Reuters was unable to independently verify if any of those killed were combatants.
The Israeli military also reported a significant strike on a Hamas command and control center in northern Gaza, located in the Abu Shabak clinic. While Israel claimed the building was being used by Hamas for weapons storage and planning attacks, the Gaza health ministry reported that the medical facility was destroyed in the attack.
Amid the violence, Israel's military continues to carry out operations aimed at eradicating Hamas militants, despite growing accusations of human rights violations. Palestinian authorities accuse Israel of attempting to depopulate Gaza’s northern areas, creating a buffer zone. Israel, however, denies these claims and insists its operations are focused on eliminating Hamas fighters.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, has led to devastating casualties on both sides. Israeli authorities say 1,200 Israelis were killed in the attack, while over 250 people were taken hostage. In response, Israel launched a land and air offensive that has resulted in almost 45,000 Palestinian deaths, most of them civilians. The war has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s population, leaving the area in ruins.
Efforts for a ceasefire have gained traction, with countries like Egypt, Qatar, and the United States pushing for peace talks, but no significant breakthrough has occurred. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently spoke with U.S. President-elect Trump, focusing on efforts to free hostages taken during the Hamas assault.
