Fighting rages across Gaza amid revival of truce talks

Cairo: 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 Islamic Jihad militant in a strike on a command centre within the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza. It didn’t point out his identify or rank.

“The command centre and terrorists had been struck exactly”, the army stated, including it was supposed to minimise “hurt to uninvolved civilians within the space of the hospital”. “The Al-Aqsa Hospital constructing was not broken and its functioning was not affected.”There was no speedy remark from Islamic Jihad, a militant group and ally of Hamas.

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 the well being authorities.The warfare erupted after Hamas 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 says any deal should safe an finish to the combating and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has dominated this out, saying it could finally 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 major hospitals, and tanks shelled areas within the center and jap areas of the territory.

Palestinian well being officers stated an Israeli air strike 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.

In Gaza Metropolis, Israeli forces continued to function inside Al Shifa Hospital, the territory’s greatest, 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 seeking to purchase some medication 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 warfare, that is genocide,” he instructed Reuters over the telephone from Gaza Metropolis.