Israeli military strikes yesterday killed dozens of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, health officials said, as Egypt hosted an Israeli delegation for a new round of talks in a bid to secure a truce with Gaza’s Hamas rulers.
The warring sides have stepped up negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, on a six-week suspension of Israel’s offensive in return for the proposed release of 40 of 130 hostages still held by Hamas militants in Gaza after their Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel.
Hamas has sought to parlay any deal into an end to the fighting and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has ruled this out, saying it would eventually resume efforts to dismantle the governing and military capabilities of Hamas.
Photo: AFP
Hamas would not be present at the talks in Cairo, as it was waiting to hear from mediators whether a new Israeli offer was on the table, an official said yesterday.
In the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Israeli forces continued to blockade the two main hospitals, and tanks shelled areas in the middle and eastern areas of the territory.
Palestinian health officials said an Israeli airstrike killed nine people in Bani Suhaila near Khan Younis, while another airstrike killed four people in al-Maghazi camp in the central Gaza Strip.
In Deir al-Balah, health officials and Hamas-run media said an Israeli airstrike hit several tents inside Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital, killing four people and wounding several, including some journalists.
In Gaza City, Israeli forces continued to operate inside al-Shifa Hospital, the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry said.
Residents living nearby said residential districts had been destroyed by Israeli forces near al-Shifa.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said forces operating in al-Shifa had killed gunmen barricading the area and had found weapons.
“Several compounds used to launch anti-tank missiles and where snipers operated were struck by IAF aircraft” in the Rimal neighborhood near Shifa, the IAF said.
It added that forces killed 15 gunmen in the central Gaza Strip and several in Khan Younis, including near al-Amal Hospital.
Israel said it killed and detained hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad gunmen at al-Shifa during a raid.
Hamas and medical staff deny any armed presence inside medical facilities.
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