In the Gaza Strip, Israeli airstrikes overnight resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals, including six women and four children, according to health officials on Tuesday. Simultaneously, Israel and Hamas appeared close to a ceasefire agreement involving the release of hostages.
Officials expressed confidence in reaching an accord within the coming days, following over a year of repeatedly stalled negotiations.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile attack towards central Israel, triggering sirens and prompting evacuations to shelters. While no casualties were reported, police confirmed damage to several homes outside Jerusalem and released an image of a missile fragment recovered from a rooftop.
Two strikes in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, claimed the lives of two women and their four children, aged between one month and nine years. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies, reported that one of the women was pregnant and the infant perished.
The European Hospital reported 12 additional fatalities from two separate strikes in the southern city of Khan Younis.
There was no immediate response from the Israeli military. Israel maintains that only militants are targeted, accusing them of using civilian areas for cover.
Pressure has mounted on Israel and Hamas to end hostilities before President-elect Donald Trump’s January 20th inauguration. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently joined U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators in Doha.
The proposed phased agreement is built upon a framework outlined by President Joe Biden in May and approved by the U.N. Security Council.
Phase one involves Hamas releasing the most vulnerable hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, concurrent with an Israeli military withdrawal from populated areas. Some Palestinians would be allowed to return home, with a significant increase in humanitarian aid.
In phase two, Hamas would release the remaining hostages in return for a larger prisoner exchange, a complete Israeli withdrawal, and a lasting ceasefire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue fighting until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are neutralized. Negotiations on the differences between both sides would occur during phase one.
The October 7th attack by Hamas-led militants resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 250 individuals. Around 100 hostages remain within Gaza, with the Israeli military estimating that at least a third, possibly up to half, are deceased.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israel’s retaliatory offensive has claimed over 46,000 Palestinian lives, more than half of whom were women and children. The ministry does not specify the number of combatants among the dead. The Israeli military claims to have killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing supporting evidence.
The offensive has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, with hundreds of thousands residing in coastal tent camps.
The conflict has spread regionally, leading to over a year of fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants, concluding with a . Israel has also , which supports Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthis.
The Israeli military reported multiple attempts to intercept a missile launched from Yemen early Tuesday, stating that “the missile was likely intercepted.” A prior missile launched from Yemen was also reported intercepted.
The Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and much of the north in 2014, have conducted numerous missile and drone attacks against Israel and targeted international shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim to be acting in solidarity with the Palestinians, despite the majority of targeted ships having no connection to the conflict.
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Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel.