CAIRO: Israeli forces fought with Hamas-led militants in several parts of Gaza on Tuesday, while Palestinian health officials said at least 13 people died in southern and central areas of the strip due to Israeli bombardment.
In Rafah, a city near the southern border where Israeli forces have been conducting operations since May, five Palestinians were killed by an air strike that hit their house; this was even as nearby Khan Younis saw the killing of a man, his wife and two kids, they added.
At least four Palestinians were killed in separate shelling and aerial strikes in Nuseirat area of central Gaza one of its eight ancient refugee camps said medics. Earlier on Tuesday’s residents reported that Israeli tanks had bombed the Southern part of Gaza City.
The military wing continued to perform “intelligence-based” activities in Rafah for another day that left many Palestinian gunmen dead according to reports. It also revealed that militants’ tunnels and other Hamas’ military infrastructure were targeted through airstrikes.
Furthermore, it stated that around 40 targets throughout the strip were hit by Israel including sniping posts and observation points; all sorts of military structures as well as explosive rigged buildings.
Hamas’s armed wings issued separate statements claiming that anti-tank rockets and mortar fire from their fighters attacked multiple locations with Israeli Forces
Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas after it carried out what according to Israel was its worst ever attack on 7th October killing 120 people and taking over 250 hostages
According to health authority for Gaza enclave over 38,000 Palestinians have been killed since beginning the nine month war do not distinguish between non-combatants or combatants though officials say most deaths are civilian
Israel says it has lost 326 soldiers in Gaza while at least thirty percent of Palestinian fatalities are fighters
Egyptian mediators together with Qatar had been attempting to end conflict release hostages including Palestinians held inside Israel jails talks negotiators claimed
Talks stop
However, Egyptian security sources said that talks stopped on Saturday after three days of intensive negotiations failed to yield any positive outcome and an Israeli strike targeted the head of military wing of Hamas, Mohammed Deif. Gaza health authorities indicated that over 90 people were killed and hundreds more injured in an attack that took place in Khan Younis area.
Hamas was also interested in continuing the negotiations despite intensified attacks from Israel a Palestinian official told Reuters Tuesday.
“It’s doesn’t want this war to end at all costs. It says it has shown the required flexibility and is urging mediators to push Israel into reciprocity,” stated an unidentified official.
He added that Hamas believes PM Benjamin Netanyahu wants to avoid a deal by imposing more conditions on their return to northern Gaza, and maintaining control of the Rafah border with Egypt which are not acceptable to them.
While on Monday U.S State Department spokesman Mathew Miller noted two senior advisors close to Benyamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is still committed towards achieving a ceasefire.
UNRWA said in a statement published on X that it would take 15 years to remove 40 million tons of war rubble from the Gaza Strip, according to a United Nations Environment Programme report. It also requires more than $500m and at least one hundred trucks for this purpose.
