At least three dozen Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip, officials reported on Saturday. This surge in violence comes as preparations continue for high-level cease-fire negotiations in Cairo, Egypt. Among the deceased were 11 members of a single family, including two children. Their home in Khan Younis was hit by an airstrike early Saturday morning, according to Nasser Hospital, where the victims and wounded were taken.
The hospital confirmed that it had received a total of 33 bodies from three separate strikes in and around Khan Younis. Another hospital in the city, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, reported receiving three more bodies from a different strike earlier the same day.
The strikes also resulted in casualties on a road south of Khan Younis, where 17 people were killed, including tuk-tuk passengers and passers-by. Additionally, another airstrike hit a tuk-tuk east of Khan Younis, killing at least five people. In a residential block west of Khan Younis, first responders recovered the bodies of 10 people. The circumstances of their deaths remain unclear, though the area has been subject to repeated bombings over the past week.
The Israeli military stated that it was investigating these reports but has yet to provide an official comment.
How many people have been killed so far?
This latest escalation in violence is part of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began on October 7 when Hamas and other militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians. The ensuing Israeli retaliation has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The death toll includes both civilians and combatants, with the conflict causing widespread destruction and forcing the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to flee their homes.
Despite the ongoing violence, diplomatic efforts are underway to negotiate a cease-fire. Experts met on Saturday to address technical issues in preparation for high-level talks scheduled for Sunday. The negotiations are being mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.
A delegation from Hamas arrived in Cairo on Saturday for discussions with Egyptian and Qatari officials, as confirmed by senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawy. While Hamas will not directly participate in Sunday’s talks, they will be briefed on the discussions by Egypt and Qatar. An Israeli delegation, including David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad foreign intelligence service, and other senior officials, arrived in Cairo on Thursday. The US side of the negotiations is being led by CIA Director William Burns and Brett McGurk, a senior Middle East adviser to President Joe Biden.
Death toll could may exceed 1,86,000
A study published in The Lancet journal suggests that the true death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza could exceed 1,86,000 people. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports over 40,000 Palestinian deaths since Israel began its offensive on October 7, following Hamas attacks.
However, the study highlights that the official count does not include many unreported deaths, such as those buried under rubble and indirect fatalities due to the destruction of health facilities, food distribution systems, and other public infrastructure.
(With inputs from agencies)