New year, same war: Israel continues to pound Gaza with intense bombings in the southern Strip hitting an area designated as humanitarian, killing the head of the Hamas-run police force, his deputy and nine other people. According to al Jazeera which cites local health sources, in the last day a wave of Israeli raids killed at least 63 Palestinians from the north to the south of the enclave, extending the trail of blood triggered by the tragic attack on October 7, 2023 that started the war. Confirming the raids, the Israeli army explained that it had carried out a night attack in the Khan Yunis area targeting deputy police chief Hussam Shahwan, accused of being “responsible for intelligence assessments in coordination with the military wing of Hamas” in attacks against the troops of the Jewish state. According to the civil protection of the Strip, the bombing hit a tent that housed displaced people in the Al-Mawasi area: Shahwan was among the 11 people killed in the attack, in which the commander of the police force, Mahmud Salah, also died. together with “three children and two women, while 15 people were injured”. Rescuers “found the wounded lying on the ground, most of them children, as well as two women martyrs,” said Saleem Abu Subha, an ambulance driver.
“About 10 tents were damaged and fires were visible.” The Interior Ministry of the Hamas-run Strip condemned the killing of the two senior police officers, saying they were “carrying out their humanitarian and national duty in the service of the people.” And he accused Israel of spreading “chaos” and worsening “human suffering” in Gaza with the deadly attack. A suffering that can be counted in the tragic toll of over 45,500 dead and 108 thousand wounded since the start of the war, including newborns who died of cold starvation in recent weeks, among the innocent victims of the violence that has devastated the infrastructure and institutions of the Gaza Strip , with humanitarian agencies daily reporting a breakdown in social order. On the other side of the front, the Israeli army has counted 891 soldiers killed so far including deaths in combat, accidents and suspected suicides: it is the highest death toll among IDF troops since the Yom Kippur war of 1973. While the blood is flowing, diplomacy remains stalled over the possibility of an agreement for a ceasefire. While on the one hand – according to the Arab media – Hamas has expressed optimism about the success of the negotiations, the Palestinian group’s refusal to offer a list of hostages still alive to be released remains unacceptable for Israel. Meanwhile, condemnations are increasing for the PA’s decision to suspend Al Jazeera’s broadcasts and all activities in the Palestinian Territories: the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it was “deeply concerned”, urging the Palestinian Authority «to revoke the decision and respect its obligations under international law».