Israeli strikes on Khan Younis in southern Gaza have killed at least 38 people since yesterday evening, while Israeli forces conducted a night raid on a hospital in the northern enclave, Palestinian officials said.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that many of the victims from strikes on residential areas in southeastern Khan Younis were women and children.
The Israeli military said in a statement its forces killed several Palestinian militants in air and ground strikes in southern Gaza and dismantled military infrastructure.
In northern Gaza, health officials said Israeli forces raided Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of only three functioning medical facilities in the area.
“Since midnight, occupation tanks and bulldozers reached the hospital. Terror against civilians, wounded and children began as they opened fire at the hospital,” said Eid Sabbah, the hospital’s nursing director, in an audio message to Reuters.
According to Sabbah, after the military withdrew initially, a World Health Organisation mission evacuated 40 patients by ambulance.
Israeli armoured vehicles later returned, firing at the hospital’s oxygen storage area before entering the building and ordering staff and patients to leave.
Neither the Israeli military nor WHO immediately commented on the hospital raid.
Israeli strikes on three houses in Beit Lahiya killed 25 people and wounded dozens, rescuers said. Medical staff at three hospitals have refused Israeli orders to evacuate.
They reported at least 800 Palestinians have been killed in northern Gaza since the army launched its new offensive three weeks ago.
The escalation comes as U.S. officials push for new ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
A Hamas official confirmed to Reuters that a delegation led by chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya arrived in Cairo yesterday for talks with Egyptian officials about “ways to end Israeli aggression in Gaza.”
U.S. and Israeli negotiators will gather in Doha in coming days to try to restart talks for a deal, officials said today.
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