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Israeli airstrikes on southern Gaza early Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people, including a child, hospital workers reported. This attack comes amid ongoing efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations in Qatar.
A young boy cried beside his father’s body, and a woman mourned over another body wrapped in white plastic. The airstrikes targeted a car, a house, and individuals in the streets of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital staff.

Additionally, Gaza’s Civil Defense, affiliated with the Hamas-run government, reported that another airstrike destroyed a residential area near the Saraya complex in Gaza City, claiming the lives of at least five people.
Israel’s military has not yet commented on these developments.
Casualties and Strikes in Gaza
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that in the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have killed at least 59 people and injured more than 270.
Meanwhile, indirect ceasefire talks continue in Doha, Qatar, after nearly 15 months of war. Hamas announced on Friday that talks had resumed, pledging to work toward an agreement, though it cautioned against misinformation that could weaken public trust.
The discussions, mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, have repeatedly stalled as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on continuing operations in Gaza until Hamas is eliminated. Hamas militants continue regrouping in areas vacated by Israeli forces.
Hostage Video Highlights the Human Cost
The ongoing war, which erupted after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has claimed the lives of nearly 1,200 Israeli civilians and the abduction of around 250 people. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with many believed to be dead.
During a video released on Saturday ahead of a weekly rally, Israeli hostage Liri Albag, speaking under duress, expressed sorrow about her captivity, noting she had been held for 450 days. “Today marks the beginning of a new year, but for us, it’s a year of loneliness,” she said, also mentioning a fellow captive who had been injured.
Palestinian Casualties in Gaza
In retaliation, Israel’s military has conducted airstrikes that have killed at least 45,717 Palestinians, with more than half being women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry has not differentiated between civilians and combatants in its report. Unrecovered bodies remain trapped under rubble, inaccessible to emergency responders.
Israel maintains that it targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian casualties, as the group operates in densely populated residential areas. According to the Israeli military, it has killed 17,000 militants, though no evidence has been presented to support this claim.
Winter Woes for Gaza’s Displaced
The ongoing conflict has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with many fleeing multiple times. As winter sets in, hundreds of thousands are living in tents near the coast, and some children have died from exposure.
Tensions in the West Bank and Lebanon
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, an 18-year-old Palestinian was killed during clashes with Israeli forces on Friday in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus. Nine others were injured in the incident.
Since the war’s escalation on October 7, Israeli raids in the West Bank have claimed the lives of over 800 Palestinians, many of them militants. However, non-combatants, including youths throwing stones, have also been caught in the crossfire.
In Lebanon, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has held for over a month, though it is unlikely to meet the agreed-upon 60-day deadline. The two groups had exchanged fire nearly daily since the Gaza war began.