Hospital staff said at least 30 people, including children, were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza from Thursday night to Friday morning. Staff at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said more than a dozen women and children were killed in attacks in various locations in central Gaza, including Nussirat, Jawida, Maghazi and Deir al-Balah.
Dozens of people were killed in the area the previous day, bringing the death toll in the past 24 hours to 56. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the latest attacks, but it has consistently targeted militants and blamed Hamas for civilian deaths.
On Thursday, Hamas security officials and an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone were attacked. Among those killed Friday morning was freelance journalist Omar al-Derawi. Associated Press reporters saw friends and colleagues mourning his body at the hospital. A press vest was placed over his shroud.
Israelis were also forced to face attacks on Friday morning. Israel said a missile had been fired into the country from Yemen. Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and central Israel after the missile hit, forcing people to flee for shelter.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. However, a light explosion was heard in Jerusalem, possibly caused by a missile or interceptor. The Israeli military said it had intercepted one missile.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire are expected to resume on Friday, even as the attacks continue. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it had authorized a delegation from the Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security agency and the military to continue talks in Qatar. The delegation is leaving for Qatar on Friday.
US-led talks have stalled repeatedly during the 15-month war, which began with an attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023. The militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped about 250. About 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza. At least a third of them are believed to be dead.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 45,500 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli retaliation in Gaza, more than half of them women and children. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its figures.
Because Hamas fighters operate in densely populated areas, the Israeli military targets only fighters and blames Hamas for civilian deaths. The military has claimed, without providing evidence, that it has killed 17,000 fighters. The war has caused widespread destruction and displaced 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, many of whom have been displaced more than once.
