CAIRO: Greater than 100 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike on a Gaza college sheltering displaced folks, the Hamas-run Gaza authorities mentioned on Saturday (Aug 10), an air strike the Israeli army mentioned had focused a Hamas command centre.
The strikes hit when folks sheltering on the college have been performing daybreak prayers, resulting in many casualties, the Hamas media workplace mentioned in a press release. Medics had not but been capable of attain all of the our bodies, it mentioned.
There was no rapid info from Gaza well being authorities.
The Israeli army mentioned in a press release that its air drive focused a command and management centre the place Hamas fighters have been hiding.
The army mentioned it had taken steps to cut back the danger of harming civilians, “together with using exact munitions, aerial surveillance, and intelligence info”. It didn’t instantly touch upon the casualty stories from Gaza.
Hamas mentioned the strike was a horrific crime and a severe escalation. Israel says the militant group embeds amongst Gaza’s civilians, working from inside colleges, hospitals and designated humanitarian zones – which Hamas denies.
Egypt’s overseas ministry condemned the strike, which got here as mediators have been pushing to renew ceasefire talks, and mentioned that the killing of Gaza civilians confirmed Israel had no intention to finish the battle.
Egypt, the USA and Qatar have scheduled a brand new spherical of ceasefire negotiations for Thursday, as fears are rising of a broader battle, involving Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benajmin Netanyahu, who has mentioned he is not going to finish the battle till Hamas not poses a risk to Israelis, mentioned a delegation could be despatched to the Aug 15 talks.
A Hamas official instructed Reuters the group was finding out the brand new provide for talks however didn’t elaborate.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on Oct 7, killing 1,200 folks, largely civilians, and capturing greater than 250 hostages, in keeping with Israeli tallies.
Since then, practically 40,000 Palestinians have been killed within the Israeli offensive in Gaza, in keeping with the Palestinian well being ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Well being officers say most the fatalities have been civilian. Israel, which has misplaced 329 in Gaza, says not less than a 3rd of the Palestinian fatalities are fighters. Iran-backed Hamas doesn’t publish its casualties.