Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip overnight and during the day Sunday killed at least 22 people, including five children, according to Palestinian medical officials.
A strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza City killed at least eight people, including three childrenSunday, according to the territory’s Ministry of Health.
The Israeli military said the attack targeted Hamas militants sheltering there.
Another bombing on a house in the town of Deir al-Balah late Saturday killed at least eight people, including three women and two childrenaccording to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies.
Six other people were also killed in separate strikes Sunday, according to local hospitals.
The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the strikes.
Israel continues to lead daily strikes in Gaza more than 14 months after the start of the war against Hamas. The army says it only targets militants, whom it accuses of hiding among civilians, but the bombings often kill women and children.
Israel and Hamas recently moved closer to a ceasefire deal that would include the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, but negotiations appear to have stalled again.
Israel allows Italian cardinal to enter Gaza Strip
These strikes come as the Israeli authorities have authorized Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, to enter the Gaza Strip to celebrate a pre-Christmas mass with members of the small Christian community in the area.
Dozens of faithful gathered at the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City to attend mass celebrated by the cardinal and other clergy.
The buzz of Israeli drones above the city – a noise that has become omnipresent in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war – was heard throughout the mass.
Cardinal’s rare visit to Gaza took place a day after Pope Francis again criticized Israel’s actions in Gazaadding that his envoy had not been able to enter the territory due to Israeli bombings.
“Yesterday, children were bombed. It’s cruelty, it’s not war”Pope Francis said during his annual Christmas greetings at the Vatican.
The Pope recently requested the opening ofan investigation into whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocideand this while the International Court of Justice is also investigating allegations of genocide made against Israel by South Africa.
The Israeli government categorically rejects these accusations, saying it makes significant efforts to spare civilians and is only at war with Hamas.
Since the October 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian militant group, Israeli retaliation has killed more than 45,000 people in Gaza, more than half of them women and childrenaccording to the territory’s Ministry of Health.
ADVERTISEMENTThe offensive has caused massive destruction and displaced some 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands of people are currently crammed into makeshift camps along the coast.
