In the Gaza Strip, Israeli military actions escalated as fierce tank fire and aerial bombings hit Khan Younis. This came after reports of nearly 200 people killed in 24 hours in Israel’s campaign against Hamas militants.
The city of Khan Younis faced heavy bombardment, with planes conducting air strikes on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. Israeli forces aimed to prepare for an anticipated further advance into the main southern city, portions of which they captured in early December.
According to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Israeli troops were targeting Hamas command centers and arms depots. The military claimed the destruction of a tunnel complex in the basement of a house belonging to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza City.
The conflict has been ongoing for twelve weeks since Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns, resulting in casualties and hostage situations. Israeli forces have inflicted significant damage on the Gaza Strip in their efforts to eliminate the Islamist group.
Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people has experienced mass displacement, with many forced to leave their homes multiple times. Thousands find themselves seeking shelter in makeshift tents or huddled under tarpaulins on open ground.
The Gaza Strip, a narrow coastal area just 40 km long, is one of the most densely populated regions globally, adding to the humanitarian challenges faced by its residents.
Health authorities in Gaza reported 187 Palestinians confirmed dead in Israeli strikes within a 24-hour period, bringing the overall toll to 21,507, approximately 1% of Gaza’s population. Many more bodies are feared to be buried in the ruins of neighborhoods.
In a tragic incident, a Palestinian journalist working for Al-Quds TV and some of his family members were killed in an airstrike on their house in the Nuseirat camp. Gaza’s government media office stated that 106 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the Israeli offensive.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed concern about the targeting of journalists and their families by the Israeli military. A recent report highlighted the deadliest recorded period for journalists in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Gaza war, with a focus on the high number of Palestinian journalists and media workers affected. The CPJ emphasized an apparent pattern of such targeting by the Israeli military.
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