A Palestinian woman peers from behind a barrier at the site of an Israeli strike on a residence, amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Nuseirat within the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. — Reuters

Israeli military operations claimed the lives of at least 15 Palestinians in Gaza on Sunday, according to medics. Israeli forces continued their bombardments across the region and demolished houses along its northern border. In the central Gaza camp of Nuseirat, an Israeli airstrike resulted in the death of six individuals within a house, while another attack claimed three lives in a home in Gaza City, as reported by medics. Two children perished when a missile struck a tent encampment in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, and four others were killed in an airstrike in Rafah, near the border with Egypt, according to medics who spoke to Reuters. Residents reported that the military demolished clusters of houses in the northern Gaza areas of Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun, where Israeli forces have been active since October of this year. Palestinians claim that Israel's operations on the northern edge of the enclave are part of a strategy to forcefully evacuate people and create a buffer zone through bombardments—an allegation the army denies. The military asserts that it has eliminated hundreds of Hamas militants as part of its efforts to prevent the faction from regrouping, nearly 14 months since the war in Gaza commenced. Hamas's armed wing claims to have killed numerous Israeli forces through anti-tank rocket and mortar fire attacks, as well as ambushes involving explosive devices since the new operation began.

Inmate fatalities and negotiations: Two Palestinian detainees from Gaza have died in Israeli custody, according to prisoner advocacy groups on Sunday, raising the number of reported detainee deaths since the start of the war to 47. The two men were identified as Mohammad Idris and Muath Rayyan, both in their 30s. The Israel Prison Service stated that the cases were not under its jurisdiction, and there was no immediate comment from the military, which oversees detention camps. Israel has refuted allegations from Palestinian and international human rights organizations that detainees have been mistreated and tortured in its jails and detention camps. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders engaged in discussions in Cairo with Egyptian security officials to explore avenues for a deal with Israel that could secure the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This visit marked the first since the United States announced on Wednesday its intention to revive efforts, in collaboration with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas seeks an agreement that would conclude the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will only end when Hamas is eradicated. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 44,300 people and displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave, according to Gaza officials. Extensive areas of Gaza are in ruins. The conflict began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials.

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