At least 32 Palestinians, including 4 children, were killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip today, the Associated Press reported, citing medics.
The children, as well as two women, were among at least 13 killed in Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah, in the central part of the strip, officials at "Shuhada al-Aqsa" hospital said. Four more people were killed in strikes near a gas station, and the remaining 15 died in attacks in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital reported.
The Israeli army said in a statement that in the past 48 hours, troops had hit about 250 targets in the Gaza Strip, including those of rebel groups, weapons storage facilities, anti-tank missile launch sites, tunnels and other infrastructure of the radical Hamas group.
The army has not yet responded to the AP's request for comment on the civilian casualties, BTA specifies.
Israel's military offensive began after Hamas on October 7, 2023 and other groups launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, and kidnapping about 250 in Gaza. About 50 of them are still being held captive, with fewer than half believed to be still alive.
So far, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, most of them women and children, according to Palestinian health authorities.
US President Donald Trump said that work was underway to conclude a new peace agreement, under which more hostages would be released and which would possibly calm the situation. However, after two days of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, no breakthrough has yet been achieved in the talks.
According to Reuters sources, the talks failed to reach a result due to issues related to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian enclave. However, the talks, which are taking place in the Qatari capital Doha, are expected to continue, the sources added.