GAZA: The health ministry in the Gaza Strip on Friday said that at least 21,507 people have been killed in the relentless Israeli bombardment in the besieged Palestinian territory since war started on October 7.
According to the health ministry over the past 24 hours alone, at least 187 people were killed. It added that 55,915 people have been injured in Gaza during the fighting.
Meanwhile, Israel continued to pound south and central Gaza on Friday as Egypt is set to host a high-level Hamas delegation for talks to end the nearly 12-week war that has devastated the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli military said its forces are extending operation across Gaza over the past 24 hours.
The UN has said that some 1.87 million Palestinians, over 80 percent of Gaza’s population, have left their homes because of the Israeli bombardment of the besieged enclave.
It says more displaced people have arrived in the southern border city of Rafah in recent days after the fighting between Israel and Hamas intensified.
Earlier, Qatar helped broker weeklong cease-fire of the Gaza war in November. During the pause in fighting 110 Israeli captives and 240 Palestinian prisoners were freed.
Israeli raids destroy entire neighborhoods in Gaza
The Israeli raids have almost destroyed entire neighborhoods in northern Gaza. Israeli ground troops have been facing heavy resistance from Hamas fighters in the area.
Since the start of 2023, a total of 1,094 structures have been demolished in the occupied West Bank, leading to the displacement of at least 2,127 Palestinians.
UN humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths has expressed concern over the situation in Gaza for the people of the area and for those trying to help them.
A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told western media that its delegation in Cairo would give the response of the Palestinian factions, including several observations regarding the Egyptian proposal to end the war.
He further said that Hamas would also seek guarantees for complete of withdrawal Israeli military from Gaza.
Egypt’s State Information Services chief Dia Rashwan has said the aim of the proposed plan is to end the shedding of Palestinian blood.
It is pertinent to note that Gaza war has also heightened tensions between Israel and Iran.
Israel has also traded heavy cross-border fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah since the Gaza war started, and on Friday it claimed to strike Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
