DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of at least 32 individuals on Sunday, including six children at a water collection point, according to local health officials. The Palestinian death toll has now surpassed 58,000 after 21 months of conflict. Despite efforts to reach a ceasefire through indirect negotiations, Israel and Hamas have not made significant progress following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to Washington. A key point of contention is the deployment of Israeli troops during a ceasefire.
Israel has insisted that the war will only end if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and goes into exile, a demand that Hamas rejects. In return for the release of the remaining 50 hostages (around 20 of whom are believed to be alive), Hamas has proposed ending the war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. Frustrated families of hostages held a demonstration outside Netanyahu’s office on Sunday, urging for a resolution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has escalated during the Gaza conflict. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported funerals for two Palestinians, including Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet, who were killed by Israeli settlers.
In a tragic incident in central Gaza, an Israeli strike on a water collection point in Nuseirat resulted in the deaths of six children among the 10 individuals brought to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military attributed the mistake to a technical error that caused their munitions to miss the intended target. Another strike in central Gaza City killed 11 people and injured around 30 others, including Dr. Ahmed Qandil, a prominent surgeon, on his way to the hospital.
The situation remains dire in Gaza, with frequent strikes causing civilian casualties. The Israeli military has targeted over 150 locations in the past 24 hours, including alleged weapons storage facilities and missile launchers. The mounting death toll, with a significant number of women and children among the casualties, underscores the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
War statistics from the recent conflict show that a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated on Channel 14 that his ministry would not participate in the reconstruction of Gaza, expressing the view that the region should remain in ruins for years to come.
A funeral took place in the West Bank for a Palestinian-American and a Palestinian friend amidst ongoing violence between Israeli forces, Palestinians, and Israeli settlers. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Musallet, a Florida native, was attacked by Israeli settlers on his family’s property, initially identified as Seifeddine Musalat, 23. Additionally, Musallet’s friend, Mohammed al-Shalabi, was fatally shot in the chest.
Israeli military sources claimed that Palestinians had thrown rocks at Israelis in the area, resulting in minor injuries and escalating tensions. Meanwhile, mourners in the West Bank carried the victims’ bodies through the streets, waving Palestinian flags and chanting religious slogans.
Musallet’s family is calling on the U.S. State Department to investigate his death and hold the responsible settlers accountable. The State Department has refrained from commenting to respect the family’s wishes.
Reported by Isseid in Al-Mazraa a-Sharqiya, West Bank. Contributions to this report were made by Associated Press writers Fatma Khaled in Cairo and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv. Stay updated on the latest war developments by following AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
