Israeli Attack on Gaza City Leaves 'At Least 12 Dead'

As a new round of mediators' efforts for a ceasefire negotiation in Gaza begins, Palestinian health officials in the Hamas government reported that 12 people were killed in an Israeli army attack on Gaza City. Hamas refrains from announcing casualty figures of its members, and Palestinian health sources under Hamas do not distinguish between their militants and civilians in human casualty statistics. In this attack, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, January 15, a residential home was targeted. Reuters, citing local residents, reported at least 14 casualties from this attack, including several children. The Israeli army has not yet commented on this matter. Hours later, an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in eastern 'Deir al-Balah', in central Gaza, left three dead. The escalation of Israeli military operations and the increase in Palestinian casualties in recent days come as new efforts by Egypt and Qatar, supported by the U.S., to mediate a ceasefire in Gaza and return hostages have begun again before Donald Trump's presidency. Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, has warned twice that if Hamas does not release the hostages by January 20 (the start of his presidency), they will 'pay a heavy price.' In the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel 15 months ago, over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and more than 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly, were taken hostage. In response to this terrorist attack, Israel launched an offensive on Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas and freeing the hostages taken to Gaza. According to Palestinian officials under Hamas, more than 45,700 Palestinians have been killed so far, many residents of Gaza have been displaced, and a large part of the region has been turned into ruins. The United States, the European Union, Israel, and many other countries consider Hamas a terrorist group. Axios: Biden administration's plan to sell $8 billion in arms to Israel. Israeli attacks on 40 Hamas gathering places and command centers. Israel shot down 'missiles and drones' of the Iranian-backed Houthis. Continuation of ceasefire negotiations and hostage release; Hamas's optimism, Netanyahu's green light.