Israeli strikes in Gaza leave over 200 dead amid escalating conflict

In a 24-hour period, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the death of more than 200 people, as reported by Hamas-controlled authorities today – Saturday December 24, 2023.

According to the AFP, the United States urged Israel to prioritise the protection of civilians, yet Israel continued its 11-week-old “Operation Swords of Iron,” targeting Hamas.

The conflict, focused on Gaza City and Khan Yunis, witnessed heavy Israeli shelling, with smoke rising over the coastal territory. 

Khan Yunis, birthplace of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, faced a visit from Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, praising the operation’s impressiveness.

Hamas authorities claimed a death toll surpassing 20,000, describing it as genocide, while Israel denied direct targeting of civilians, emphasizing the necessity of combating Hamas.

In Washington, President Joe Biden engaged in discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasising the need to protect civilians and support humanitarian aid operations. 

Israel, however, asserted its commitment to the war until all goals were achieved.

The conflict has claimed 144 Israeli troops, and strained relations between Netanyahu and the U.S. President. 

A UN Security Council resolution, allowing aid deliveries to Gaza, was passed, but a call for a ceasefire was removed at the insistence of the U.S.

In Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, Palestinians expressed a desire for a ceasefire over aid alone. 

The war has displaced 80 per cent of Gaza’s 2.4 million population, and efforts to revive a truce and prisoner swap seems stalled.

Beyond Gaza, a drone strike off Veraval, India, indicated the conflict’s regional impact. 

The Pentagon attributed the attack to a one-way attack drone fired from Iran, possibly linked to Yemen’s Huthi rebels targeting Israeli-linked vessels.

As the conflict unfolds, cross-border skirmishes occurred between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, both backed by Iran.