Israeli airstrikes on Gaza kill 9, including children, in early New Year’s Day attacks

In the early hours of New Year’s Day, Israeli forces launched a series of attacks on Gaza, targeting residential areas and refugee camps. Nine Palestinians, including children, were killed, and numerous others were injured.

Why it matters

The strikes highlight the ongoing violence in Gaza, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region. The targeting of civilian areas raises serious concerns about the escalating conflict and its impact on vulnerable populations.

Details

• Bureij refugee camp: A woman and a child were killed in a drone strike, with several others injured. Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings and followed up with heavy artillery fire.
• Jabaliya: Seven Palestinians, mostly children, died in a strike on a residential home. Witnesses reported intense shelling in nearby neighborhoods.
• Southern Gaza: Artillery fire hit areas in Khan Yunis and Rafah, targeting homes and displacing residents. Casualties were transported to local hospitals.
• Northwest Gaza: Heavy shelling damaged homes in the Siftawi neighborhood, leaving families in dire conditions.

Zoom in

The attacks were reportedly in retaliation for Kassam Brigades’ rocket fire targeting Netivot in southern Israel. Israeli forces described their actions as a “necessary response” and issued evacuation orders for areas in central Gaza, further intensifying fear among civilians.

Zoom out

This escalation is part of a broader and ongoing conflict that has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, economy, and civilian population for decades. The international community continues to call for a cease-fire and diplomatic resolutions, but tangible progress remains elusive.