Israeli Airstrikes Kill 100 in Gaza, One of the Deadliest Nights in War
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 100 people overnight, making it one of the deadliest nights of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Fatal Airstrikes in Gaza
At a funeral in Gaza, Palestinians mourned the deaths of 70 people who were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Maghazi area. The attack took place in the center of the besieged strip, causing devastation and grief among the survivors.
Witnesses described the airstrikes as relentless, with strikes occurring throughout the night and into the next day. Israel reportedly intensified air and ground shelling in central Gaza, leading to a night of terror for the residents.
According to health officials, many of those killed were women and children. Additional airstrikes in nearby areas resulted in the deaths of eight more people in al-Bureij and al-Nusseirat. In total, the Palestinian death toll overnight exceeded 100.
Pope Appeals for Release of Hostages
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow over the deaths of children in wars, including in Gaza. He referred to them as the "little Jesuses of today" and condemned the Israeli strikes for claiming innocent civilian lives.
The Pope also called for the release of approximately 100 hostages believed to be held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. During their rampage in Israeli towns on October 7, the militant groups captured a total of 240 hostages and killed 1,200 people.
Holding a candle-lit Christmas vigil in Bethlehem, Palestinian Christians prayed for peace in Gaza instead of the usual celebrations. The city canceled its festivities, and nativity figurines were placed amidst the rubble and barbed wire in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Catastrophic Conditions in Gaza
The ongoing conflict has resulted in catastrophic conditions in Gaza. The narrow strip has been under siege by Israel, causing the majority of its 2.3 million residents to be displaced from their homes. The United Nations has described the situation as catastrophic.
Since the collapse of a week-long truce, fighting has escalated, spreading to the full length of the densely populated strip. The Israeli military reported the deaths of two soldiers in the past day, bringing the total number of Israeli casualties to 158 since ground operations began.
Negotiations for a new truce, facilitated by Egypt and Qatar, have made little progress in securing the release of the remaining hostages. The militant groups have demanded an end to the Israeli war in Gaza before discussing any release, while Israel is willing to consider only a pause in fighting.
