16 were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, where a war is still going on. This has raised concerns about the pain of civilians and the lack of aid.
- 17 people were killed overnight in Gaza by Israeli bombs.
- 45,000 Palestinians were killed; 90% of the people were forced to leave their homes.
The most recent changes
Health officials in the Gaza Strip say that Israel killed at least 16 people in bombings that happened overnight on Sunday.
Women and children were among the dead. Six people, including four children, were killed in a strike on a school in Gaza City that held displaced civilians.
Eight people were killed in a strike in Deir al-Balah. In Khan Younis, two more people were killed.
Israel’s military says its attacks are only going after Hamas terrorists because they are hiding among citizens, the military says.
But the number of civilian deaths, including women and children who have been forced to leave their homes, keeps going up, showing how badly the war is hurting the people of Gaza.
A Quick Look at the Battle
On October 7, 2023, terrorists under the leadership of Hamas launched a surprise attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis.
The Gaza Health Ministry says that since then, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza.
Because of the constant bombings and evacuations, about 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have had to leave their homes.
What are the situations for people who need help in Gaza?
- 90% of Gaza’s people have been forced to move, some more than once.
- Hundreds of thousands of people are living in crowded tent camps because of the damage.
- Not having enough relief help makes everyday pain worse.
- The cold winter makes life harder for families who are already struggling.
Help and a religious visit during a crisis
Over 100 hospital patients in northern Gaza were able to leave because of Israel’s COGAT, which also helped hospitals that were having a hard time by delivering food and fuel.
The head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, went to Gaza to celebrate a pre-Christmas Mass with the Christians there. This brought some short-term comfort in the midst of the destruction.