CAIRO – At least 15 people were killed in Israeli military strikes on Gaza on Dec 1, according to medics, as Israeli forces intensified their bombardments across the enclave, targeting residential areas and infrastructure.
In Nuseirat, a camp in central Gaza, an airstrike destroyed a house, killing six people. Another strike killed three individuals in Gaza City, while two children died when a missile hit a tent encampment in Khan Younis. Four others were reported dead in an airstrike in Rafah near the Egyptian border.
Israeli forces reportedly demolished clusters of houses in northern Gaza, including Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun. Palestinians claim these actions are part of a plan to forcibly clear civilians from the area to create a buffer zone, a charge denied by the Israeli military. Israel asserts that its operations have killed hundreds of Hamas militants and are designed to prevent the group from regrouping, nearly 14 months into the war. Hamas’ armed wing claims to have inflicted heavy losses on Israeli forces through ambushes, rocket attacks, and explosive devices.
Palestinian Detainees and Humanitarian Concerns
Palestinian advocacy groups reported that two detainees from Gaza, Mohammad Idris and Muath Rayyan, died in Israeli custody on Dec 1, bringing the number of detainee deaths since the war began to 47. The Israel Prison Service said the cases were not under its jurisdiction, and the military offered no immediate comment. Israel has denied allegations of mistreatment of detainees raised by Palestinian and international human rights organizations.
Hamas Negotiations in Cairo
In Cairo, Hamas leaders held discussions with Egyptian security officials to explore a potential deal with Israel for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This marks the first meeting since the U.S. announced on Nov 28 a renewed push for a ceasefire, working with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
While Hamas seeks a broader agreement to end the war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the conflict will only cease with the eradication of Hamas.
Devastation in Gaza
The ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, has resulted in over 44,300 deaths in Gaza, according to local officials. The violence has displaced nearly all of the enclave’s population, leaving vast areas in ruins.
