DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Overnight and into Friday, Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 42 people in Gaza, including children, according to hospital and emergency response workers. Tensions rose as health workers and Israel’s military exchanged statements regarding reported evacuation orders for two hospitals in the territory’s heavily isolated northern region.
Discussions about Al-Awda and Indonesian hospitals emerged amidst stalled ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending nearly 15 months of conflict, which are scheduled to continue in Qatar.
Staff at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported that strikes in central Gaza, affecting areas such as Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi, and Deir al-Balah, resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen women and children. The previous day saw numerous casualties across the enclave.
“We were awakened by the missile strike. We found the entire house in ruins,” recounted Abdul Rahman Al-Nabrisi from the Maghazi refugee camp.
Later on Friday, officials from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported that an airstrike in Zawaida, located in central Gaza, resulted in the deaths of three individuals traveling in a car. Meanwhile, the Civil Defense, composed of first responders linked to the Hamas-led government, announced that an airstrike claimed the lives of seven people, including four children and a woman, in the Shijaiyah neighborhood near Gaza City. Additionally, another strike led to the deaths of two people at Al-Samer junction within Gaza City.
The Israeli army announced that it had targeted numerous Hamas gathering spots and command centers across Gaza over the past day. It also issued a warning for residents to evacuate a region in central Gaza, indicating plans for an attack in response to missile launches directed at Israel. According to the military, a few projectiles were launched from central and northern Gaza, but no injuries were reported.
Among the casualties on Friday was freelance journalist Omar al-Derawi, who was laid to rest with a press vest placed on his shroud. Last month, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that the conflict had claimed the lives of over 130 Palestinian journalists.
Israelis also faced attacks, waking up to missile fire from Yemen. This prompted air raid sirens in Jerusalem and central Israel, causing residents to rush to shelters. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen frequently claim responsibility for such actions.
Concerns about hospitals in northern Gaza
As the U.N. Security Council convened on Friday to address the war’s impact on Gaza’s hospitals, Al-Awda Hospital in the north reported receiving instructions from Israel’s military for an immediate evacuation of staff and patients, although no further details were provided.
A nurse at the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza informed The Associated Press about receiving similar evacuation orders. Requesting anonymity due to a lack of authorization to speak publicly, the nurse mentioned remaining at the hospital with 19 people, including eight patients, and stated that staff had requested ambulances for evacuation.
Israel’s military, however, stated that it wasn’t pursuing evacuation operations for Al-Awda or Indonesian hospitals.
Regarding the Indonesian hospital, the military said, “Messages were sent to reiterate to officials in the health authorities that there is no need to evacuate the hospital.”
The claims from both sides could not be immediately verified. The Israeli military imposes significant restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in Gaza and has prohibited foreign journalists from entering the territory during the conflict, making information verification challenging.
The impact of the war on hospitals has been a contentious issue, with the health system suffering significant devastation. Israel has consistently accused Hamas of using hospitals as operational bases, asserting that its military efforts aim to protect these facilities. During the conflict, the military has conducted raids on several hospitals, including Al-Awda and Indonesian.
U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk informed the Security Council on Friday about a recent report from his office documenting “at least 136 strikes on at least 27 hospitals and 12 other medical facilities in Gaza.” These strikes have resulted in significant casualties among doctors, nurses, medical staff, and other civilians, while also damaging or destroying many of the targeted buildings. Türk emphasized that both sides have a responsibility to protect these facilities.
More talks in Qatar
Hamas announced that indirect ceasefire talks are set to resume on Friday, following a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicating that he has authorized a delegation from the Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security agency, and the military to continue negotiations in Qatar.
The U.S.-led discussions have faced repeated delays. Netanyahu has vowed to continue operations in Gaza until Hamas is dismantled. However, despite being significantly weakened, the militants have managed to regroup, often after Israeli forces withdraw from areas.
The conflict began with an attack by Hamas-led militants into Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of around 250 individuals. Around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least one-third believed to have died.
In response, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 45,500 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which reports that women and children account for more than half of the casualties. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures.
Israel’s military maintains that its operations are focused exclusively on militants and attributes civilian casualties to Hamas, which it accuses of operating within densely populated residential areas. The army claims to have eliminated 17,000 militants, though it has not provided evidence to substantiate this claim.
The conflict has led to extensive destruction and has displaced roughly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with many facing repeated displacements. With the arrival of winter, hundreds of thousands are now taking shelter in tents along the coast.
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