Israel’s latest strikes on Christmas Eve killed at least 78 people in the Gaza Strip making it one of the deadliest nights of the enclave after 11 weeks since Israel launched its offensive against the Hamas regime here, reported Reuters citing Palestinian Health officials. The strikes began hours before midnight and persisted into Christmas Day on Monday. Local residents and Palestinian media said the Jewish nation increased air and ground shelling against al-Bureij in central Gaza, the report added.
The health ministry spokesperson, Ashraf Al-Qidra said at least 70 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Maghazi in central Gaza. Among the dead, he said, many were women and children.
Pope Francis expressed deep pain over the latest attack and said: “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 (Christmas) prevents him from finding room in the world.”
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. #Christmas
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 24, 2023
Amid this, medics said a separate Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza killed eight Palestinians.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it was reviewing the report of a Maghazi incident and was committed to minimising harm to civilians. However, the Palestinian Red Crescent published video of the injured being taken to hospitals and said Israeli warplanes bombed main roads between central Gaza, hindering the passage of ambulances and emergency vehicles, the Reuters further said in its report.
Due to the bloodshed, clergy cancelled celebrations in Bethlehem, the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank city. Earlier, Palestinian Christians held a Christmas vigil here with candle-lit hymns and prayers for peace in the war-torn region instead of the usual celebrations.
No large tree was part of the usual centrepiece of Bethlehem’s Christmas celebrations, the report added.
ALSO READ | Israel Paying Heavy Price, But Has No Choice: Netanyahu As War With Hamas Rages On