The death toll in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has reached over 45,000 Palestinians, according to health officials. The figure includes more than half of women and children, with thousands of bodies buried under rubble or inaccessible to medics.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 106,962 others have been wounded since the conflict began. A family of four was killed in an Israeli strike on a shelter in Gaza City’s Shijaiyah neighborhood. Israel claims Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths due to its presence within civilian areas.
Rights groups say Israel has failed to take sufficient precautions to avoid civilian casualties. The war, which started when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, has resulted in over 1,200 civilian deaths and the abduction of 250 people.
Ceasefire negotiations between Qatar, Egypt, and the US appear to be gaining ground, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz saying negotiators are closer to a deal than ever before. A separate strike on a school in Khan Younis killed at least 13 people, including six children and two women.
The International Federation of Journalists reported that 104 journalists and media workers have been killed this year, with more than half dying in Gaza.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-12-16-2024-9f7c8f0df71dc4c97a6b31aed6e13304