At least 36 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, as Israeli military operations intensified in the region. Most casualties were reported in the northern part of the enclave, according to Palestinian health officials.
Among the dead, 20 people lost their lives following an airstrike on houses in Jabalia, the largest of Gaza’s eight historic refugee camps. The area has been a focal point of Israeli military offensives for over three weeks. An airstrike on a school sheltering displaced families in the Shati camp in Gaza City further claimed four lives and wounded 20 others, many critically.
Escalation in Lebanon
In neighboring Lebanon, at least five people were killed and 13 wounded on Sunday in an Israeli strike on Sidon (Saida) in the south, as confirmed by the country’s health ministry. Concurrently, the Israeli military urged residents of 14 villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately and move north of the Awali River.
Incident in Central Israel
Meanwhile, in central Israel, dozens were injured when a truck struck a bus stop at a major intersection. Israeli rescue workers reported treating numerous individuals at the scene, with at least four sustaining serious injuries. The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation by the police.
Iran’s Response to Israeli Strikes
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Iranian officials should determine the appropriate response to Israel following an Israeli attack on Iran two nights prior. “The evil committed by the Zionist regime should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated,” Khamenei remarked, as reported by Iran’s official IRNA news agency. He emphasized that Iran’s power should be demonstrated, with actions determined by officials in the nation’s best interest.
The Israeli military claimed that scores of its jets conducted three waves of strikes against missile factories and other sites near Tehran and in western Iran, though Iran downplayed the impact, stating the attacks caused limited damage.
Developments in Gaza
Israeli forces withdrew from a hospital complex in northern Gaza on Saturday, a day after entering it. The Palestinian enclave’s health ministry reported that troops had detained dozens of male medical staff and some patients during their operation.
Additionally, the Israeli military announced that it had “eliminated over 40 terrorists” in the Jabalia area over the past 24 hours, dismantled infrastructure, and located substantial amounts of military equipment.
Ceasefire Talks in Doha
High-level negotiations are set to begin in Doha, with the directors of the CIA and Israel’s Mossad meeting Qatar’s prime minister on Sunday. The discussions aim to broker a new short-term ceasefire deal in Gaza and facilitate the release of some hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, according to an official briefed on the talks who spoke to Reuters.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
