Palestinians mentioned they felt “no pleasure” this Christmas as Israel bombed Gaza on Monday, without end to the warfare that Hamas says has claimed greater than 20,000 lives.
Within the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Bethlehem, revered because the birthplace of Jesus Christ, festivities had been successfully scrapped, with few worshipers or vacationers on the normally busy streets.
Within the besieged Gaza Strip, the Hamas-led Well being Ministry mentioned early Monday that Israeli strikes had killed at the least 18 individuals within the southern city of Khan Yunis, the middle of the latest preventing.
At a hospital within the metropolis, Fadi Sayegh – whose household had beforehand been allowed to journey to Bethlehem for celebrations – mentioned he wouldn’t have a good time Christmas this 12 months.
“There isn’t any pleasure. No Christmas tree, no decorations, no household dinner, no celebrations,” he mentioned whereas present process dialysis. “I pray that this warfare can be over quickly.”
Sister Nabila Salah of the Holy Catholic Church in Gaza — the place the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem says two Christian girls had been killed by an Israeli sniper earlier this month — struck a somber tone.
“All Christmas celebrations have been cancelled,” she advised AFP. “How will we have a good time after we hear… the sound of tanks and bombings as an alternative of the ringing of bells?”
The warfare broke out when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,140 individuals, largely civilians, and seizing 250 hostages, in line with an AFP depend primarily based on Israeli figures.
Israel has pledged to eradicate Hamas in response to its navy marketing campaign, which has included huge aerial bombardments. In accordance with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, 20,424 individuals, largely girls and youngsters, have been killed within the marketing campaign.
Pope Francis kicked off world Christmas celebrations on Sunday with a name for peace.
“Our hearts exit to Gaza, to all of the individuals of Gaza, however a particular consideration to our Christian group in Gaza that’s struggling,” the Catholic chief mentioned.
– Christmas Eve strike –
Simply earlier than Christmas, the Hamas-led Well being Ministry mentioned at the least 70 individuals had been killed on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.
Well being Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra mentioned the “toll is more likely to rise” as many households had been regarded as within the space on the time of the strike.
In a separate incident, the ministry mentioned 10 members of 1 household had been killed in an Israeli assault on their house within the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza.
AFP couldn’t independently confirm both toll.
Massive components of Gaza are in ruins and its 2.4 million individuals have suffered extreme shortages of water, meals, gasoline and medication because of an Israeli siege, which was solely alleviated by the restricted arrival of assist vans.
Eighty % of Gaza residents have been displaced, in line with the UN. Many have fled south and are actually defending themselves from the winter chilly in makeshift tents.
The pinnacle of the UN refugee company, Filippo Grandi, known as for an finish to the struggling.
“A humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is the one approach ahead,” he wrote on X, previously Twitter. ‘Struggle defies logic and humanity and prepares a way forward for extra hatred and fewer peace.’
The pinnacle of the World Well being Group, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, additionally renewed requires a ceasefire, saying: “The decimation of Gaza’s healthcare system is a tragedy.”
– ‘No selection’ –
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Sunday that the warfare was exacting a “very excessive worth” because the demise toll of troopers killed within the battle continued to rise.
“However we’ve no selection however to maintain preventing,” he mentioned, including: “This can be a protracted warfare.”
The military mentioned on Monday that two extra troopers had been killed, bringing the variety of deaths since Friday to 17 and to 156 since Israel’s floor assault on October 27.
Israeli navy spokesman Jonathan Conricus indicated that the forces had been near gaining management in northern Gaza and that “we are actually focusing our efforts on Hamas in southern Gaza.”
Two launched prisoners and a health care provider mentioned on Sunday that Palestinians held by the Israeli military within the Gaza Strip had been tortured, an accusation denied by the military.
The 2 males had been amongst lots of detained by Israeli forces over alleged ties to Hamas throughout Israel’s floor offensive.
About 20 males launched from Israeli custody “have bruises and marks of blows on their our bodies,” Marwan al-Hams, hospital director within the southern metropolis of Rafah, advised AFP.
