At least 22 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Saturday, medics said, while the Israeli military claimed it targeted gunmen operating from shelters and aid storages.
The deadliest strike occurred near a municipality building in Deir Al-Balah, killing at least 10 people. The area was densely crowded as people gathered to receive aid. The head of the Hamas-run administrative committee, Diab Ali al-Jaru, who was also the mayor of Deir Al-Balah, was among those killed.
In Gaza City, another airstrike killed seven people, including a woman and her baby. The Israeli military said it targeted a former shelter housing displaced people. However, Palestinian medics disputed this claim, saying the strike targeted Hamas fighters.
A local journalist, Mohammed Baalousha, who worked for Dubai Al Mashhad television, was also killed in an airstrike in Gaza City. The military is investigating the incident.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 137 journalists and media workers being killed in Gaza since October 2023. The war between Israel and Hamas has claimed over 45,000 civilian lives, with nearly the entire population displaced and much of the enclave left in ruins.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is reported to have discussed efforts to reach a truce with visiting US officials, including a hostages-for-prisoners deal. A fresh bid for a ceasefire has gained momentum in recent weeks.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/seven-killed-israeli-strike-gaza-school-palestinian-emergency-service-says-2024-12-14