Thu Dec 19 19:41:27 UTC 2024: ## Gaza Strikes Kill at Least 30 Palestinians Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Negotiations

**GAZA CITY** – At least 30 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes on Thursday, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. The strikes hit multiple locations, including two schools sheltering hundreds of displaced civilians in eastern Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least 13 people, including women and children. The Israeli military confirmed targeting Hamas militants in at least one of the attacks, claiming they were operating within the school compounds. Another strike on a group of Palestinians collecting water in Al-Shati refugee camp killed 13 more, and four additional fatalities were reported in a separate strike on a house in eastern Gaza City. The Israeli military has yet to respond to accusations of targeting civilians in those incidents.

Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the Gaza civil defense agency, condemned the strikes as a continuation of Israel’s policy of targeting displaced people and shelters. He stated that the strikes on the schools, Shabaan al-Rayes and Al-Karama, occurred while hundreds of war-displaced Palestinians were inside. The Israeli military countered that Hamas militants were using the school compounds for planning and carrying out attacks.

The ongoing violence continues to plague the Gaza Strip, more than 14 months after the initial outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas. International mediators, including the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, are engaged in renewed efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas militants in Gaza. While the US expressed cautious optimism earlier this week, Thursday’s strikes represent a significant setback to those efforts.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel triggered the current conflict, resulting in the deaths of 1,208 Israelis (mostly civilians) and the abduction of 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza. The Israeli retaliatory offensive has resulted in at least 45,129 Palestinian deaths, a majority of whom are reported to be civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. The United Nations considers these figures reliable.

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