Gaza Strip, Deir al-Balah: Israeli airstrikes killed at least 50 people, including several children, across Gaza, targeting Hamas security forces and a designated humanitarian zone. The deadly strikes continued into the early hours of Friday, as thousands of displaced Palestinians took refuge in the Muwasi area of Gaza, enduring harsh winter conditions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that he had authorized a delegation from Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security service, and the military to continue ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. This delegation was set to leave on Friday for talks aimed at securing a halt to the ongoing conflict. These discussions, led by the U.S., have faced repeated setbacks over the past 15 months.

The Israeli airstrike on the Muwasi area, a zone where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians had sought shelter, killed at least 10 people, including three children and two senior Hamas police officers. Ziyad Abu Jabal, a displaced resident, described the attack as shocking. 

Israel’s military said it targeted a senior Hamas police officer in Muwasi, accusing him of gathering intelligence for Hamas’ armed wing to plan attacks on Israeli forces. Another Israeli airstrike in the Deir al-Balah region, in central Gaza, killed at least eight people. These men were members of local committees that help manage aid convoys, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. The bodies were confirmed by an Associated Press journalist at the hospital.

Further south in Gaza, Israeli strikes killed five policemen in eastern Khan Younis. Israel's government spokesperson, David Mencer, stated that the attack targeted the head of Hamas' internal security force in the area. Throughout the conflict, Israel has targeted Gaza's police, which has contributed to a breakdown in law and order, making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to deliver aid. Israel claims that Hamas has hijacked the aid for its own purposes.

In the Maghazi area, a strike on a group of pedestrians resulted in three more deaths. The bodies were also taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. In addition, Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza, including the Nuseirat refugee camp, killed at least 24 people, including several children, according to hospital reports.

The ongoing conflict escalated following a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, which sparked a significant escalation of violence and retaliatory strikes.
The assault left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead, mostly civilians, and led to the abduction of around 250 people, with around 100 hostages still being held in Gaza, many feared dead.