On Monday, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed 16 people, including five women and four children, according to Palestinian officials. Israel maintained that its strikes target militants, blaming Hamas and other armed groups for endangering civilians by operating in densely populated residential areas.
While Israel rarely comments on individual strikes, civilian casualties—including women and children—are a frequent outcome. Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported over 41,000 Palestinian deaths since the war erupted following Hamas’ October 7 attack, although it does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Israel claims to have killed 17,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence for these figures.
The war has caused significant destruction across Gaza, displacing nearly 90% of its 2.3 million residents. The humanitarian toll has drawn criticism from international figures, including the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. She criticized Israel for attacks on schools and civilians, expressing frustration with Israel’s military strategy.
Her remarks included outrage over the killing of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Eygi during a West Bank protest in September, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for her death. Israel has acknowledged that Eygi was likely killed by mistake and is investigating.
Israeli Strikes in Gaza Spark U.S. Criticism Amid Warnings Against Escalation with Hezbollah
Thomas-Greenfield’s strong comments represent a shift in tone from the U.S., which has typically stood by Israel in international forums. In her speech to the U.N. Security Council, she described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic” and emphasized that many of the recent attacks involving U.N. personnel and aid workers were preventable.
She also highlighted the growing frustration within the U.S. over Israel’s conduct as the conflict nears its one-year mark. The ambassador’s speech suggested a growing desire within the Biden administration for greater accountability from Israel.
In a separate development, White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against escalating tensions with Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border.
During private talks on Monday, Hochstein stressed that a full-scale conflict with Hezbollah could spark a broader regional war. He warned that this would hinder Israel’s efforts to return displaced citizens from the northern regions of the country while undermining the possibility of a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Netanyahu responded by reiterating Israel’s commitment to its security, expressing appreciation for U.S. support but emphasizing Israel’s determination to take necessary actions.
He argued that the return of northern residents would not be possible without a substantial change in the region’s security situation. Despite U.S. warnings, Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would continue to act independently to maintain its security and restore safety to its people, both in the north and south.
