Israeli airstrikes cause many fatalities in Gaza as ceasefire negotiations begin

An Israeli military strike in Gaza City early Saturday resulted in the deaths of 12 individuals, according to Palestinian medics, raising the total fatalities from recent strikes across Gaza to 62 within a 24-hour period. This escalation comes as mediators in Qatar are working towards a new ceasefire agreement.

Witnesses and medical personnel reported that at least 14 people were present in the Al-Ghoula family’s home at the time of the attack, which completely demolished the structure.

Rescue efforts were underway as people sifted through the debris in search of potential survivors, with reports indicating that several children were among the deceased. Smoke and flames could still be seen rising from the remnants of the building hours after the strike.

“We were awakened around 2 a.m. (00:00 GMT) by a tremendous explosion,” recounted Ahmed Ayyan, a neighbor of the Al-Ghoula family, noting that 14 to 15 individuals were inside the house during the incident.

“Most of them were women and children; they were all civilians, and there was no one there involved in launching missiles or affiliated with any resistance group,” Ayyan stated to Reuters.

The Israeli military has not yet provided a response regarding this incident. However, they did release a statement on Saturday indicating that their operations in Beit Hanoun, located at the northern edge of the enclave, have continued throughout the week, resulting in the destruction of a military facility utilized by Hamas.

On Saturday, an Israeli airstrike resulted in the deaths of three individuals in a vehicle located east of Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, according to medical sources. Health officials reported that dozens of Palestinians lost their lives in strikes on Friday, raising the total death toll over the past 24 hours to 62.

The recent increase in Israeli military actions and the rising number of Palestinian casualties coincide with renewed efforts to establish a ceasefire in the ongoing 15-month conflict and secure the release of Israeli hostages before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20.

Israeli negotiators have been sent to continue discussions in Doha, facilitated by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, while the Biden administration has encouraged Hamas to reach an agreement. Although Hamas has expressed its commitment to a deal, the proximity of a resolution between the two parties remains uncertain.

Israel’s military operations in Gaza were initiated in response to the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, during which militants attacked border communities, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of around 250 hostages, as reported by Israeli sources. The military campaign, aimed at dismantling Hamas, has devastated large areas of the enclave, displacing most residents and leading to the deaths of 45,717 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry.