Israeli Airstrikes Kill 17 Palestinians in Gaza on New Year’s Day
Israeli airstrikes on the al-Bureij refugee camp and Jabalia town in central and northern Gaza killed at least 17 Palestinians on the first day of the New Year, according to the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment, but its Arabic spokesperson posted a warning on X earlier, urging residents of al-Bureij to evacuate due to an imminent strike targeting fighters firing rockets from the area. The military also reported that it killed Abd al-Hadi Sabah, a Hamas fighter, in an overnight operation.
The evacuation order for al-Bureij has triggered a new wave of displacement, though the exact number of people affected is unclear. WAFA reported that Israeli forces destroyed residential blocks in Beit Lahiya and near Jabalia, while tanks shelled parts of Gaza City and al-Bureij.
Palestinian and UN officials argue that there is no safe place in Gaza, and that evacuations are worsening the dire humanitarian conditions. Palestinian civil defense authorities said that heavy rains over the past two days have flooded over 1,500 tents sheltering displaced people, leaving them exposed to the cold and damaging their belongings. Hundreds of other tents have also been affected by lesser flooding, making them unusable.
The areas around Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza have been cleared of people and razed, raising concerns that Israel may intend to keep these areas as a closed buffer zone after the fighting ends.
As of now, more than 45,500 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health officials. The majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and much of the region lies in ruins.
On Wednesday, Israel warned of intensifying airstrikes if Hamas continues to fire rockets from Gaza. Though the rockets have caused limited damage, they have been a political embarrassment for the Israeli government after nearly 15 months of conflict.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that if Hamas does not allow the release of Israeli prisoners and continues its rocket attacks, it will face unprecedented retaliation.
