Dozens killed by Israeli airstrike 83km from where Christmas story began

Tanks continue to roll into Gaza (Picture: AFP)

An Israeli air strike has killed at least 68 Palestinians in a refugee camp in Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry said.

At least 12 women and seven children are included in the death toll from the strike on Maghazi refugee camp on Christmas Eve – just 83km from Bethlehem.

The horrific strike happened very close to the believed birthplace of Jesus.

The IDF said it is ‘reviewing’ the airstrike in Maghazi and aims to ‘minimise harm to civilians’.

It comes only days after an Israeli airstrike on Gaza ‘killed 76 members of the same family’.

Mahmoud Bassal, a spokesman for the besieged enclave’s Civil Defense department, shared the names of some of those killed.

16 heads of households from the al-Mughrabi family and said several victims were women and children.

Hospitals continue to face a steady stream of injured and dead (Picture: Getty)

The strip has been under constant bombardment since October 7 (Picture: Reuters)

Israel declared war after Hamas militants went across the border on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostages.

More than 20,000 Palestinians have since died in reprisal aerial and ground assaults, with more than 53,000 wounded, health officials in Gaza say.

Earlier in the conflict, Israel bombed refugee camps in Al-Shati and Jabalia, killing dozens and injuring more.

Local man Nasser Abu Quta told reporters 19 members of his family, including his wife, had been killed when an air strike hit their home.

There were no fighters in his building, he said. ‘This is a safe house, with children and women.’

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The IDF said it is ‘reviewing’ the airstrike in Maghazi and aims to ‘minimise harm to civilians’.