GAZA: At least 30 people, including children, were killed by Israeli strikes overnight and on Friday morning in Gaza taking the overall tally to 45,658.
Staff at the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said that over a dozen women and children were killed in strikes targeting various locations in central Gaza, including Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi, and Deir al-Balah.
Dozens more were killed across the enclave the previous day, bringing the 24-hour death toll to 56.
Palestine’s news agency WAFA reported that three victims, including journalist Omar Al-Diraoui, were killed when an Israeli bomb struck the Shalt family’s home in Al-Zawaida, central Gaza.
The bombing targeted the house along with the surrounding area, leaving four people dead and multiple others wounded.
A separate attack killed one individual when Israeli forces bombed a house in the west of Gaza City.
In another attack east of Deir al Balah, a resident was killed as Israeli forces targeted the Abu Al-Ajeen area.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, since October 7, 2023, at least 45,658 Palestinians have been killed and 108,583 injured in the Palestinian territory. The ministry also said that many victims remained trapped under rubble, with rescue operations hindered by ongoing Israeli bombardments.
Though the attacks are underway on Gaza, efforts at ceasefire negotiations are expected to resume Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he had authorised a delegation from the Mossad intelligence agency.
The US-led negotiations have faced repeated setbacks over the 15 months of war, which began with a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
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.
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“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.”
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.
