Israeli strikes killed 77 Palestinians in Gaza previously 24 hours, well being authorities stated on Sunday, as Egypt hosted an Israeli delegation for a brand new spherical of talks in a bid to safe a truce with Gaza’s Hamas rulers.
The Israeli army stated it killed a senior member of Islamic Jihad — a militant group and ally of Hamas — in a strike on a command centre within the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza.
“The command centre and terrorists have been struck exactly, supposed on minimizing hurt to uninvolved civilians within the space of the hospital,” the army stated. “The Al-Aqsa Hospital constructing was not broken and its functioning was not affected.”
There was no rapid remark from Islamic Jihad.
Palestinian well being officers and Hamas media stated the strike hit a number of tents contained in the Al-Aqsa Hospital, killing 4 individuals and wounding a number of, together with 5 journalists.
Greater than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s army offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7, in keeping with well being officers within the territory.
The struggle erupted after Hamas-led militants broke by means of the border and rampaged by means of communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 individuals and abducting 253 hostages, in keeping with Israeli tallies.
The 2 sides have stepped up negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, on a six-week suspension of Israel’s offensive in return for the proposed launch of 40 of 130 hostages nonetheless held by Hamas militants in Gaza after their Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel.
Hamas has sought to parlay any deal into an finish to the preventing and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has dominated this out, saying it might ultimately resume efforts to dismantle the governing and army capabilities of Hamas.
Hamas wouldn’t be current on the talks in Cairo, an official instructed Reuters on Sunday, because it waited to listen to from mediators on whether or not a brand new Israeli provide was on the desk.
Within the southern Gaza Strip metropolis of Khan Younis, Israeli forces continued to blockade the 2 primary hospitals, and tanks shelled areas within the center and japanese areas of the territory.
Palestinian well being officers stated an Israeli airstrike killed 9 individuals in Bani Suhaila close to Khan Younis, whereas one other air strike killed 4 individuals in Al-Maghazi camp within the central Gaza Strip.
Extra preventing reported at Gaza’s largest hospital
In Gaza Metropolis, Israeli forces continued to function inside Al-Shifa Hospital, the territory’s largest, the well being ministry stated. Residents dwelling close by stated residential districts had been destroyed by Israeli forces close to Al-Shifa.
“I went out trying to purchase some drugs from a pharmacy and what I noticed was heart-breaking. Full streets with buildings that used to face there had been destroyed,” stated Abu Mustafa, 49.
“This isn’t struggle, that is genocide,” he instructed Reuters over the telephone from Gaza Metropolis.
Like the remainder of the two.3 million inhabitants of Gaza, Mustafa, a father of six, is struggling to offer his household with meals within the north of the enclave, the place the United Nations warned famine was imminent.
“We have had sufficient; we sleep and get up dreaming of a ceasefire that can finish the struggle and protect the lives of whoever stays in Gaza,” he stated.
The Israeli army stated forces working in Al-Shifa killed gunmen barricading the realm and had discovered weapons.
“A number of compounds used to launch anti-tank missiles and the place snipers operated have been struck by [Israeli Air Force] plane” within the Rimal neighbourhood close to Shifa, the army stated.
It added that forces killed 15 gunmen within the central Gaza Strip and a number of other in Khan Younis, together with close to Al-Amal Hospital.
Israel stated it killed and detained a whole bunch of Hamas and Islamic Jihad gunmen at Al-Shifa throughout a raid. Hamas and medical workers deny any armed presence inside medical amenities, accusing Israel of killing and arresting civilians.
Within the peace talks, Hamas additionally desires a whole bunch of hundreds of Palestinians who have been displaced from Gaza Metropolis and surrounding areas southward in the course of the first stage of the struggle to be allowed again north.
The World Court docket on Thursday unanimously ordered Israel, accused by South Africa of genocide in Gaza, to take all mandatory and efficient motion to make sure primary meals provides to the inhabitants.