Israeli airstrike kills at least 70 people in Christmas bloodshed

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GAZA, Dec 25: In a devastating incident on Christmas Eve, at least 70 people lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Al-Maghazi refugee camp at the heart of Gaza, as reported by Palestinian authorities in the besieged strip. The strike, labeled a “massacre” by the Hamas-run health ministry, resulted in the deaths of 12 women and seven children, with the toll expected to rise.

Health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra condemned the late-night airstrike, describing it as a “massacre” taking place in a densely populated residential area. Disturbing videos from the scene depicted numerous injured individuals, including children, being hurried to the nearby Al-Aqsa hospital, while some of the victims were left outside in body bags.

Hamas militants denounced the airstrike as a “horrific massacre” and a “new war crime.” Heart-wrenching personal stories emerged, such as that of a father who lost his daughter and grandchildren, highlighting the impact on civilians seeking refuge. The Israeli military stated that it was reviewing the incident, emphasizing its commitment to international law and minimizing harm to civilians amid challenges posed by Hamas terrorists operating in civilian areas.

Tragically, another Israeli strike claimed the lives of 10 members of a single family in the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The conflict persisted with an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 76 members of an extended family. Israel reported the loss of 14 soldiers during intense fighting in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, with clashes occurring in central and southern Gaza as forces engaged Hamas militants in close-quarters combat near the territory’s border with Egypt.

Amidst the ongoing conflict, Christmas celebrations were canceled in Bethlehem, the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank city and the biblical birthplace of Jesus. Pope Francis, in his Christmas Eve Mass in Rome’s St Peter’s Basilica, expressed sorrow, stating, “Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world.”

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