
At least 15 Palestinians, including eight children and two women, have been killed in an Israeli attack near a medical facility in central Gaza, according to reports from a hospital there.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said the attack hit people waiting in line for food supplements in the city of Deir al-Balah. Graphic video from the hospital showed the bodies of several children and others lying on the floor as doctors treated their wounds.
The Israeli military said it targeted a "Hamas terrorist" in the area and expressed regret for any injuries to uninvolved individuals and that the incident was "under review."
Another 26 people were reportedly killed in attacks elsewhere in Gaza on Thursday, as Israeli and Hamas delegations continued negotiations for a new ceasefire and hostage release deal in indirect talks in Doha. Despite optimism expressed by the United States, which is acting as a mediator along with Qatar and Egypt, they appear to be moving nowhere near a breakthrough.
At the al-Aqsa hospital morgue, relatives of the victims wept as they wrapped the dead children in white shrouds and body bags before performing funeral prayers. One woman told the BBC that her pregnant niece, Manal, and her daughter, Fatima, were among them, and that Manal's son was in the intensive care unit.
"She was waiting in line to get supplements for the children when the incident happened, I don't know what happened next," Intisar said.
Another woman standing nearby said, “For what sin were they killed? ”
The official, who was speaking during a visit to the US by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also said that if an agreement was reached for a 60-day ceasefire,
Israel would use that time to offer a permanent end to the war that would require Hamas to disarm. If Hamas refused to disarm, Israel would "continue" with military operations, they added.
Earlier, Hamas issued a statement saying the talks had been difficult, blaming Israeli "intransigence."
The group said it had shown flexibility by agreeing to the release of 10 hostages, but reiterated that it was seeking a "comprehensive" deal that would end the Israeli offensive.
The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 57,680 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
Most of Gaza's population has also been displaced multiple times. More than 90% of homes are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed; healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed; and there are shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter.
Lini një Përgjigje