Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip overnight into Tuesday resulted in the deaths of 24 individuals, as per hospital records. Among the casualties were 10 women and four children. The violence persists as Israel and Hamas deliberate over the latest cease-fire proposal.
The fatalities in Nuseirat and Zawaida occurred following recent cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas, even after Israel targeted Hamas' top military commander, Mohammed Deif. Another senior Hamas militant was reportedly killed in the strike, which claimed the lives of 90 Palestinians, including children.
International mediators are actively engaged in efforts to facilitate a deal between Israel and Hamas to end the ongoing conflict and secure the release of approximately 120 hostages held by the militant group in Gaza.
Emergency workers reported that the strikes late Monday and early Tuesday targeted four residential homes. The bodies of the deceased, some wrapped in blankets, were transported to Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah. Smoke from the Israeli strikes was visible rising above the city.
The Israeli military stated that it conducted targeted raids on terror sites in central Gaza, without providing further details on the specific targets. In southern Gaza, nine individuals lost their lives in two separate strikes overnight Monday.
Four people were killed in a blast that hit a house in eastern Khan Younis, while five others perished in a strike on a street in Rafah. The bodies were taken to Nasser Hospital, where a funeral was later held.
Israeli air force planes reportedly struck around 40 targets in Gaza over the past day, including observation posts, Hamas military structures, and explosives-rigged buildings.
The conflict in Gaza, triggered by Hamas' attack on October 7, has resulted in a significant death toll, with over 38,600 people killed according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The war has led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, displacing a majority of its 2.3 million residents and causing widespread hunger.
Hamas' initial attack claimed the lives of 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and resulted in the capture of approximately 250 hostages. Currently, around 120 individuals remain in captivity, with a portion believed to have perished, as per Israeli authorities.
Violence has also escalated in the West Bank during the conflict, with a Palestinian stabbing an Israeli policeman on Tuesday. The assailant, identified as a 19-year-old from Gaza, was subsequently shot and killed by another officer.
