Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli forces conducted air strikes on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, including three girls, amid ongoing conflict that has persisted for 15 months.
The strikes occurred in the context of negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States in Doha, aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas militants. The negotiations also seek to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In a tragic incident within the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, three girls and their father, Mahmud Abu Kharuf, were killed when an air strike hit their home. Local paramedic Mahmud Awad reported that he assisted in transferring the bodies to a hospital, stating that the bodies were discovered under the rubble of the bombed house. The body of the third girl was located earlier by local residents.
Additional fatalities occurred in a separate strike in Jabalia, a town in northern Gaza, where eight individuals were killed when their home was targeted. This area has been the focus of the Israeli military offensive since October 7.
Despite the ongoing air strikes and shelling across Gaza, diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting and facilitate a deal for the release of hostages continue. On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism in Paris, stating that a ceasefire was “very close.” He emphasized the urgency of finalizing the agreement before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
Blinken referenced a three-phase plan proposed by President Joe Biden in May, which outlines the conditions for a ceasefire and the process for releasing hostages.
