Christmas Eve Turns Deadly For Gazans, 68 Killed In Israeli Strike
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Raven Ruma
- . December 24, 2023
- . Update: December 25, 2023 1:54 pm
In one of the deadliest strikes of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, at least 68 people died in the besieged Gaza Strip on Sunday. Meanwhile, Israel’s leaders acknowledged the “very heavy price” after 15 soldiers got killed in combat over the weekend.
The 68 fatalities include at least seven children and 12 women, according to early hospital figures. Ahmad Turokmani, who lost several family members in the attack including his daughter and grandson, said “there is no safe place in Gaza anyway.”
“We Have No Choice But To Continue Fighting”
Journalists watched frantic Palestinians carry the dead and wounded following the strike on the Magazine refugee camp east of Deir al-Balah. The violence has devastated parts of the enclave, killed roughly 20,400 people and displaced almost all of the 2.3 million residents.
As Christmas Eve fell, smoke rose over Gaza. Bethlehem in the West Bank was hushed, its holiday celebrations called off. In neighbouring Egypt, tentative efforts continued on an agreement for another exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Israelis still largely stand behind the country’s stated goals of crushing Hamas and releasing the remaining 129 hostages. That’s despite the unprecedented suffering among Palestinians and increasing international pressure against Israel’s offensive.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “The war exacts a very heavy price from us, but we have no choice but to continue fighting.” Meanwhile, President Isaac Herzog appealed for the country to remain united, noting “this moment is a test.”
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UNSC Resolution on Gaza
Nonetheless, many people have expressed anger against the government, criticising it for failing to protect civilians on October 7 and promoting policies that allowed Hamas militants to gain strength over the years. Netanyahu has avoided accepting responsibility for the failures.
In recent news, the United Nations Security Council passed a watered-down resolution calling for the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid for hungry and desperate Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages, but not for a ceasefire.
