January 1st 2025.
In the Gaza Strip, the war between Israel and Hamas continued into the new year, with Israeli strikes killing 12 Palestinians, including women and children. The most heavily destroyed area, Jabaliya, was hit by a strike that killed seven people, while another strike in the Bureij refugee camp killed a woman and a child. The flashing lights of emergency vehicles illuminated the man carrying the body of a child, who expressed frustration at the ongoing violence and loss of innocent lives.
According to Israeli military, the strikes were in response to rockets fired by Hamas fighters from the Bureij area. The military also issued evacuation orders for the area, as they continue their offensive against Hamas. In the southern city of Khan Younis, three more people were killed in a strike, bringing the total number of Palestinian casualties to over 45,000.
The war, which began in October of 2023, has also caused widespread destruction and displacement for the majority of Gaza's population. Many are living in tents on the coast, enduring harsh winter conditions and relying on charity kitchens for their only source of food. Umm Adham Shaheen, a displaced citizen, expressed concern over the lack of aid and rising prices, as well as the closure of some charity kitchens.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages have been ongoing for nearly a year, but have yet to be successful. Hamas has demanded a lasting truce, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting until "total victory." Meanwhile, there has been a net departure of Israelis for the second year in a row, with more than 82,000 leaving the country and only 33,000 immigrating.
In a separate development, Israel's military has attributed the killing of a 70-year-old archaeologist and a soldier in southern Lebanon to "operational burnout" and a "weakening of discipline and safety." The civilian, Zeev Erlich, was not on active duty but was wearing a military uniform and carrying a weapon. The military has launched an investigation into the incident, as well as into the entry of civilians into combat zones.
While the entry of civilians into these zones is not common, there have been reports of Israeli civilians entering Gaza and Lebanon in support of a permanent Israeli presence. The family of the soldier killed with Erlich has expressed anger over the circumstances surrounding their loved one's death. This incident adds to the ongoing conflict and tension between Israel and its neighboring countries.
Reporting from Cairo, Magdy was assisted by Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Tia Goldenberg in Jerusalem.
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