Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have resulted in the death of at least 17 people, including several minors, according to hospital workers. These strikes, which occurred early Friday morning, come amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas. The Indonesian Hospital reported that ten of the victims were from Jabaliya, with eight of them perishing in the same residence. In the southern city of Khan Younis, seven people, including a pregnant woman, lost their lives, as confirmed by Nasser Hospital.
The recent fatalities follow a day when more than two dozen individuals were killed in Gaza as Israel intensifies its military operations. This escalation is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages and disarm. Meanwhile, the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, made his first public appearance in Jerusalem. He visited the Western Wall, the holiest site for Jewish prayer in the Old City, where he placed a handwritten prayer by President Donald Trump into the wall, expressing hopes for peace in Jerusalem. Huckabee emphasized ongoing efforts to secure the return of hostages held by Hamas.
Ambassador Huckabee, who has previously supported Israel’s annexation of the West Bank, stated that he does not intend to pursue that policy as part of his role. During Trump’s first term, he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv, despite Palestinian objections. The Palestinians aim for East Jerusalem, captured by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967, to be the capital of a future state.
Huckabee’s arrival coincides with a critical phase in the conflict, as international mediators, including the United States, are working to revive a failed ceasefire. Israel demands that Hamas release more hostages at the onset of any new truce and, ultimately, accept disarmament and withdrawal from the enclave. Additionally, Israel plans to occupy significant “security zones” within Gaza. Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya rejected the latest Israeli proposal, insisting on the release of Palestinian prisoners, a complete Israeli withdrawal, and a lasting ceasefire in exchange for releasing the hostages.
The ongoing war began on October 7, 2023, when insurgents led by Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing 251 as hostages. Most have been released through ceasefire agreements and other deals. The Israeli offensive has claimed the lives of over 51,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties. The conflict has devastated large portions of Gaza, severely affecting its food production capacity and displacing about 90% of its population, with many living in temporary camps and bombed buildings.
On Thursday, aid groups raised alarms over a six-week-long Israeli blockade that has restricted the entry of food and other goods into the region. Thousands of children are malnourished, and most of the population is surviving on a single meal a day as supplies dwindle, according to the United Nations. Israel’s Defense Minister describes the blockade as a key “pressure tactic” against Hamas, accused of redirecting aid to sustain its governance. Humanitarian workers refute claims of significant aid diversion, noting close monitoring by the UN, and describe Israel’s measures as a “starvation tactic.”
