Tragedy Unfolds in Gaza: Israeli Airstrike Claims Over 100 Lives
A devastating Israeli airstrike targeted the center of the besieged strip of Gaza on Monday, resulting in one of the deadliest nights in the ongoing 11-week battle between Israel and Hamas. At least 70 people lost their lives in Maghazi, with Palestinian health officials reporting a significant number of women and children among the casualties.
The strike, which began hours before midnight, persisted into Monday, with Israel intensifying air and ground shelling in central Gaza, particularly in al-Bureij and al-Nusseirat. In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, 23 individuals were killed in another Israeli airstrike, bringing the total Palestinian fatalities overnight to more than 100.
At a funeral in Gaza on Monday, mourners touched white shrouds containing the bodies of the victims, with one man hugging a dead child amid scenes of profound grief. Witnesses described the horror, with one man expressing, "The walls and the curtains fell on us. I reached down to my four-year-old child, but all I found were rocks."
Pope Francis, in his Christmas message, decried the tragedy, referring to the children dying in wars, including in Gaza, as the "little Jesuses of today." He condemned the Israeli strikes, stating they were reaping an "appalling harvest" of innocent civilians.
Meanwhile, some of Gaza's small Christian community took a brief respite from the conflict to celebrate Christmas. However, numerous residents, displaced from their homes in Bureij, made pleas on social media for shelter.
The Israeli army, in response, stated that it was reviewing the report of the Maghazi incident and emphasized its commitment to minimizing harm to civilians. Hamas denied the Israeli charge that it operates in densely populated areas or uses civilians as human shields.
The Palestinian Red Crescent shared footage of wounded residents being transported to hospitals, highlighting the challenges faced by emergency services amid the ongoing airstrikes.
In Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank, clergy canceled Christmas celebrations, reflecting the somber mood. Palestinian Christians held a candle-lit Christmas vigil with hymns and prayers for peace in Gaza, diverting from the usual festive celebrations.
The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, notably absent from the midnight vigil, sent a representative in a departure from his usual practice, reflecting the prevailing gloom over Gaza.
As the conflict rages on, with diplomatic efforts showing limited progress, the civilian toll continues to rise, and the United Nations describes conditions in Gaza as catastrophic. The international community closely watches the situation, urging a resolution to the violence that has left thousands displaced and countless lives shattered.
