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An Israeli soldier was killed on Sunday in northern Gaza as Israeli forces continue their operation in the region, with recent developments signaling that the months-long offensive in Jabalia may be drawing to a close.
Despite a decrease in rocket fire over the course of the war, there were several instances of rocket launches from Gaza on Sunday, marking a rare resurgence of such attacks.
The soldier, Staff Sgt. Yuval Shoham, 22, from Jerusalem, was part of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 9th Battalion. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not specify the circumstances of his death, but his killing brings Israel’s death toll in the ongoing conflict to 394.
Shoham’s death follows a series of intense clashes with Hamas operatives in northern Gaza, where the IDF has been engaged in some of its fiercest fighting.
Shoham’s death comes as Israeli forces continue their mission in Gaza, facing resistance from Hamas fighters holed up in various strongholds, including hospitals that are suspected of being used by the terror group as shields.
The IDF has been operating in northern Gaza’s Jabalia area since early October, with the goal of dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure.
According to military sources, the IDF’s focus in the region has centered on the Kamal Adwan Hospital, which the IDF described as “Hamas’s last bastion” in Jabalia.
Hundreds of operatives were allegedly hiding in the facility, using it to shield themselves from Israeli airstrikes.
The hospital raid has sparked significant international controversy, with accusations from various human rights organizations that the IDF may have caused unnecessary harm to civilians and destroyed crucial medical infrastructure.
Despite the challenges, the IDF claims to have arrested hundreds of terror suspects at Kamal Adwan, while also facilitating the transfer of patients and civilians to other Gaza hospitals.
The raid has added to growing concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where health systems have already been severely strained by the ongoing conflict.
The latest flare-ups of rocket fire on Sunday came as the IDF continued airstrikes on Hamas targets across the region.
In northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun, fighter jets struck rocket launchers that had been used to fire two long-range rockets at the Jerusalem area on Saturday. Fortunately, both rockets were intercepted before causing any damage or injuries.
Later on Sunday, five additional rockets were launched at Sderot, a southern Israeli city near the Gaza border. The IDF confirmed that two of the rockets were intercepted, while the remaining three struck open areas.
Despite the lack of casualties, this marked the third consecutive day of rocket fire from Gaza, raising concerns that Hamas may be seeking to reignite hostilities after a period of relative quiet.
Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attacks, which ignited the conflict, rocket fire from Gaza has diminished in frequency.
However, the recent uptick in such incidents is significant, as it represents one of the more substantial waves of rocket launches in recent months.
Israeli officials have urged civilians to remain vigilant, with Col. Avichay Adraee, the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, announcing new evacuation orders for areas near Jabalia, where rocket fire is still a threat.
At the same time, the IDF has been engaged in continuous aerial bombardments of Hamas positions, including a Sunday strike that targeted a group of Hamas operatives using a former hospital in Gaza City.
The target, Al-Wafa Hospital, had been converted into a Hamas command center, the IDF claimed, and the operatives were reportedly planning attacks on Israeli troops.
The IDF said it took measures to limit civilian casualties, utilizing precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance in the operation. Palestinian media reported at least seven fatalities and several injuries from the airstrike.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening, with rising concerns over the fate of vulnerable civilians, particularly infants and children. On Sunday, a fourth baby succumbed to hypothermia due to the cold winter temperatures in the region.
The baby, Jomaa al-Batran, was found dead in a tent along with his twin brother, Ali, who is in critical condition.
His father, Yehia, described the desperate living conditions for displaced families, noting that his family had only four blankets for eight people, and temperatures often fell below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) at night.
The cold weather has exacerbated the already dire conditions in Gaza, where many families are living in tents after being displaced by the ongoing conflict.
Several other infants have died in similar circumstances in recent weeks, according to local health officials.
As winter storms intensify, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza shows no signs of abating, and efforts to provide aid are continually hindered by the ongoing conflict and blockades.
The IDF has provided occasional evacuation warnings for civilians in the conflict zone, urging them to seek shelter ahead of Israeli military strikes.
However, these warnings are frequently ignored by many civilians who are either unable to leave or fear for their lives as they attempt to move to safer areas.
Israel has stressed that it is doing everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties, but its actions have drawn widespread condemnation from international bodies.
In particular, Israel has faced accusations of targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, and using disproportionate force against civilian populations.
Meanwhile, Hamas continues to operate within densely populated civilian areas, complicating the IDF’s efforts to target the group without causing further harm to innocent lives.
In parallel with the military operations, the IDF has announced the elimination of several high-ranking Hamas commanders, including some involved in the October 7 attacks.
The latest airstrikes targeted a series of Hamas leaders in northern Gaza, including those who were directly involved in the assault on Israel that killed over 1,200 civilians.
Among those killed in IDF operations last month were Muhammad Abd al-Hamid Salah, who participated in the October 7 massacre, and several other senior Hamas commanders.
The IDF continues to search for and eliminate Hamas operatives, with a specific focus on those responsible for the October 7 attack.
According to Israeli military sources, operations to locate and neutralize the remaining Hamas operatives are ongoing, despite the difficulty of doing so in a densely populated area like northern Gaza.
As the conflict rages on, the situation in Gaza remains increasingly dire, with no clear end in sight. With international calls for a ceasefire growing louder, the toll on both sides continues to rise.
In Gaza, the destruction of infrastructure and the loss of life continue unabated, while in Israel, concerns about security and the safety of civilians remain paramount.
The ongoing war, which has now lasted over 15 months, shows no sign of winding down. Despite progress made by the IDF in the destruction of Hamas infrastructure, the group’s resilience in the face of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations continues to complicate efforts for a resolution.
The human cost of the war, both in terms of lives lost and the immense suffering of civilians, remains at the forefront of the global debate on the conflict.
As Israel prepares for continued military operations in Gaza, the international community remains divided over the best path forward.
Amid the uncertainty, the loss of life and the harsh humanitarian conditions faced by those in Gaza continue to cast a long shadow over the conflict, with no clear end in sight for those caught in the middle of the war.