Israel’s war on Gaza has killed over 45,500 Palestinians, according to the health ministry, displaced nearly 90 per cent of the 2.3 million people, and left the tiny, densely populated coastal territory in ruins. Humanitarian agencies estimate that over 1.6 million Gazans are living in makeshift shelters, nearly half a million in flood-prone areas.

The new year brought more death for civilians in Gaza as Israel Defense Forces airstrikes resulted in 17 killed on Wednesday, according to Palestinian accounts.