KEY POINTS
- Israeli attacks across Gaza on New Year’s Day killed 29 Palestinians, including children.
- Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks have killed over 45,555 Palestinians.
- At least 1,091 infants and 17,400 children have died in Gaza.
- WHO evacuates 55 patients from Gaza to the UAE for treatment.
GAZA CITY: At least 29 people, including children, were killed on the first day of 2025 in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, medical sources reported, as the territory’s Health Ministry said that at least 45,555 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the besieged territory since October 7, 2023.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, since October 7, 2023, more than 45,555 Palestinians have been killed and more than 108,379 injured in the Palestinian territory. The ministry also said that many victims remained trapped under rubble, with rescue operations hindered by ongoing Israeli bombardments.
Medical sources said that an Israeli drone struck a home in the central Bureij refugee camp, killing a woman and child and wounding several others. Artillery fire targeted the eastern and northern parts of Bureij and Nuseirat camps, but casualties from these areas remain unconfirmed.
In Jabalia, a northern Gaza town, an airstrike killed at least 15 people, including children, and injured several others, according to local health officials. Witnesses reported widespread destruction as Israeli forces continued demolishing homes in Beit Lahia and Jabalia.
The southern Gaza Strip also witnessed violence, with injuries reported from an airstrike in the al-Fukhari area near Khan Younis. Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa TV reported two deaths in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood following an Israeli attack on a residential apartment block.
Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported continuous bombing by Israeli drones and artillery in Shujayea and the Sha’af neighbourhoods.
Harsh Winter Deepens Suffering
Amid the relentless Israeli bombardment, displaced Palestinians are grappling with severe winter conditions. Heavy rains have flooded hundreds of makeshift shelters, adding to the misery of those already displaced.
Seven children reportedly died from hypothermia in the past week, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
“For three days, we haven’t slept,” Samah Darabieh, a woman displaced from Deir el-Balah told Al Jazeera. “We fear for our children—not just from the missiles but also from the cold.”
Rising Toll on Children
The Gaza Government Media Office stated that Israeli forces have killed at least 1,091 Palestinian infants since October 7, including 238 born during the ongoing conflict. Palestinian officials estimate that at least 17,400 children have died in the war, averaging one child every 30 minutes.
Earlier in 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
WHO Evacuates 55 Patients from Gaza
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that its staff evacuated 55 patients from Gaza to the United Arab Emirates for specialized medical treatment.
However, the UN health agency emphasized that over 12,000 patients still require evacuation due to limited medical resources in the besieged territory amid Israeli bombardment.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israeli forces have intensified their attacks on Gaza.
Humanitarian organizations and global leaders have condemned the ongoing violence, labelling the blockade and strikes as a deliberate effort to destroy the population.
