YEARS
Disturbing scenes emerged as ambulances carried wounded Palestinians to Al-Aqsa hospital, while some victims arrived on foot with blood-stained clothes. Gaza’s health ministry said 14 people were killed in other attacks on Saturday.
At least 30 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a girls’ school in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. The Israeli military said in a statement that it had targeted a Hamas command and control center inside the Khadija school compound in central Gaza. Deir al-Balah is one of the areas most populated by displaced families as many have fled their homes due to the fierce fighting in Gaza. Disturbing scenes emerged as ambulances were carrying injured Palestinians to Al-Aqsa hospital, while some victims arrived there on foot with blood-stained clothes. Gaza’s health ministry said 14 people were killed in other attacks on Saturday.
The planned attack comes a day before officials from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Israel are to meet in Italy to discuss ongoing hostage and cease-fire talks. CIA Director Bill Burns is expected to meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Mossad Director David Barnea and Egyptian spy chief Abbas Kamel on Sunday, according to officials. Israel’s military has generally blamed the militant Islamist group Hamas for harming civilians, accusing it of acting as a barricade in densely populated areas, schools and hospitals. Hamas has denied these claims. The United Nations and humanitarian officials have accused Israel of using disproportionate force in the war, which it denies.
The Israeli army on Saturday ordered Palestinians to temporarily evacuate southern areas of Gaza’s Khan Yunis in order to prevent what it called “forced action” there. According to an official statement, the army has ordered residents to move to a designated humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi, as the conflict nears ten months. The order comes after alleged rocket fire, which Israel says originated from this specific area in the south. This is the second evacuation operation issued in a week in the designated area for Palestinians fleeing other parts of Gaza. The army said it fought Palestinian fighters in Khan Yunis on Friday and destroyed tunnels and other infrastructure while trying to eliminate small units attacking troops with mortar fire.
Other News