Wed Jan 01 14:13:03 UTC 2025: ## Israeli Attacks Kill 26 Palestinians in Gaza on New Year’s Day

**GAZA CITY, January 1, 2024** – Israeli attacks on Gaza on New Year’s Day have killed at least 26 Palestinians, including four children and one woman, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The attacks, which targeted several locations including Jabalia, Bureij refugee camp, Gaza City, and Khan Younis, occurred amidst days of heavy rain that flooded makeshift shelters housing displaced Palestinians.

The ministry reported that at least ten more Palestinians are missing and feared to be under rubble. One particularly devastating attack in Jabalia left 15 dead and over 20 injured after a house sheltering displaced people was bombed. Witnesses described the scene as a “massacre,” with body parts scattered throughout the destroyed building. Similar attacks in Bureij, Gaza City, and Khan Younis resulted in additional casualties.

The ongoing Israeli offensive, which began on October 7, 2023, has already claimed the lives of at least 45,553 Palestinians and injured 108,379, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The recent attacks have exacerbated the suffering of displaced Palestinians, many of whom are struggling to survive in flooded shelters with limited access to humanitarian aid and facing dangerously cold weather. At least six infants have died from the cold in recent days.

The Gaza Civil Defence agency reported difficulties responding to distress calls due to intense Israeli bombardment. Furthermore, Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted medical facilities, including a recent raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital that resulted in the evacuation of staff and patients and the arrest of the hospital director. The UN has warned that these attacks have pushed Gaza’s healthcare system to the brink of collapse.

International condemnation of Israel’s actions continues to mount, with accusations of genocide and calls for accountability. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ongoing situation in Gaza remains dire, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.

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