At least 46 Palestinians have lost their lives in the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza, as international efforts continue to broker a ceasefire and a captives-for-prisoners exchange. Wednesday’s toll, provided by medical sources, comes amid escalating violence across both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where Israeli raids claimed the lives of three additional Palestinians.
Since the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas fighters on southern Israel, Gaza’s health officials report that 45,936 people have been killed and 109,274 wounded. The Hamas attack reportedly resulted in 1,139 Israeli casualties, with 250 captives taken, according to Al Jazeera’s analysis of Israeli statistics.
Gaza Under Relentless Bombardment
Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum noted that Israeli strikes were primarily concentrated in the northern Gaza Strip, particularly around Gaza City.
- A strike on a Gaza City park resulted in the deaths of five people.
- Another strike on a school sheltering displaced civilians in Jabalia killed four individuals.
- In central Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp, an airstrike on a family home led to 10 deaths, including women and children.
“The devastation is unprecedented, particularly in Gaza City, which remains the focal point of intense military operations,” Abu Azzoum said. He added that four telecommunications workers were injured while attempting to restore internet services.
Collapse of Healthcare Services
Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure is on the brink of collapse. Rawya Taboura, a nurse at the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, told Al Jazeera that Israeli shelling targeted the hospital’s walls and surroundings, making it impossible to deliver aid or supplies.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the three major hospitals in northern Gaza remain non-operational due to continuous fighting. Meanwhile, Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis announced it would cease operations by Wednesday afternoon due to fuel shortages. Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah has also reported a complete depletion of essential medical supplies.
International aid organizations, including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), have expressed grave concerns over the humanitarian crisis. The IFRC highlighted worsening conditions as harsh winter weather exacerbates the plight of displaced families living in makeshift camps without adequate shelter or basic necessities.
UNICEF reported that 74 children, including eight infants, have died in the first week of 2025 due to cold weather and lack of adequate care. Over one million displaced children in Gaza are struggling to survive in severe conditions.
West Bank Raids and Arrests
In addition to the airstrikes on Gaza, Israeli forces continued their operations across the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS), 45 Palestinians were arrested in various raids across Hebron, Nablus, Tubas, Tulkarem, Ramallah, and Jerusalem.
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that several teachers and students in Bethlehem were injured due to tear gas fired by Israeli soldiers at Kisan School, east of the city.
International Response
As diplomatic efforts continue in Qatar, there is mounting pressure on Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law. Aid organizations have repeatedly called for unhindered access to Gaza, but Israel’s restrictions continue to stifle relief efforts.
While both sides engage in tense negotiations, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, fueling international outrage over what Palestinian officials have described as “heinous crimes” committed against civilians.
