© Reuters. Israeli troopers participate in a floor operation, amid the continuing battle between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in a location given as Gaza Strip, on this handout image launched on January 19, 2024. Israeli Military Handout/Handout by way of
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By IbraheemAbu Mustafa and Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA/DOHA/TEL AVIV (Reuters) -The Palestinian Purple Crescent accused Israel of firing on Friday at a hospital in Khan Younis, as a serious advance in the primary metropolis within the southern Gaza Strip threatened the few healthcare services nonetheless open.
The Purple Crescent mentioned displaced individuals had been injured “due to intense gunfire from the Israeli drones targeting citizens at Al-Amal Hospital” in addition to the rescue company’s base. The army mentioned it was checking the report.
Close by in the identical metropolis, Israeli tanks had been additionally approaching Gaza’s largest remaining functioning hospital, Nasser, the place individuals reported listening to shellfire from the west. Residents additionally reported fierce gun battles to the south.
Israel has launched a serious new advance in Khan Younis this week to seize the town, which it says is now the first base of the Hamas fighters who attacked Israeli cities on Oct. 7, precipitating a conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza well being ministry mentioned 142 Palestinians had been killed and 278 injured in Gaza up to now 24 hours, taking the dying toll from greater than three months of conflict there to 24,762.
The World Well being Group says many of the enclave’s 36 hospitals have stopped working. Solely 15 are partially functioning and people are working at as much as 3 times their capability, with out sufficient gasoline or medical provides, it says.
Israeli officers have accused Hamas fighters of working from hospitals, together with Nasser, which workers deny.
Greater than 1.7 million individuals – round 75% of Gaza’s inhabitants – are estimated to be displaced, many compelled to maneuver repeatedly, in accordance with U.N. Palestinian refugee company (UNRWA) figures. Many have sought refuge in tents that do little to guard them from the weather and illness.
Amongst them, Mohammed al-Ghandour needed to provide his bride an attractive marriage ceremony however they needed to flee their houses in Gaza Metropolis and the couple lastly received married this week in a tent metropolis in Rafah, close to the Egyptian border, the place they now stay.
“My happiness is maybe at 3% but will get myself ready for my wife. I want to make her happy,” Ghandour mentioned.
NETANYAHU REJECTS STATEHOOD
Whereas saying he was not shying away from the “human tragedy” inflicted on Gaza civilians, Israeli President Isaac Herzog solid the offensive as a step in direction of extra peaceable relations with the Palestinians sooner or later, and bolstering international safety, throughout his look on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos.
Within the north, the place Israel says it has began pulling out troops and shifting to smaller scale operations, 12 individuals had been killed in Israeli strikes on a residential constructing close to the largely non-functioning Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza Metropolis, Palestinian well being officers mentioned.
An Israeli strike on a home in Al-Nusseirat refugee camp within the central Gaza Strip killed 5 Palestinians, well being officers mentioned.
Washington has had scant success in persuading its ally to alleviate the plight of the civilian inhabitants, disadvantaged since October of normal help and sufficient medical care.
Israel says it would battle on till Hamas is eradicated, an purpose Palestinians name unachievable due to the group’s construction and deep roots in an enclave it has run since 2007.
Diplomats had been dealing on Friday with the repercussions after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to rule out an impartial Palestinian state, rejecting a long-standing pillar of U.S. technique within the Center East.
“Israel must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River,” Netanyahu informed a briefing in Tel Aviv on Thursday. “It clashes with the principle of sovereignty, but what can you do?”
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu on Friday, the White Home mentioned, with out disclosing particulars of the decision. White Home spokesperson John Kirby (NYSE:) later mentioned Biden nonetheless believed in a two-state answer.
“He recognizes that’s going to take a lot of hard work. It’s going to take a lot of leadership there in the region,” Kirby informed reporters at a White Home briefing.
Biden’s sturdy assist to date for Israel has created friction with some members of his personal Democratic get together who’re involved over the conflict’s steep toll on Palestinian civilians.
Dozens of Biden’s fellow Democrats signed a letter on Friday urging his administration to reaffirm that america strongly opposes “the forced and permanent displacement” of Palestinians from Gaza.
HOSTAGE KILLED
Israel’s onslaught on Gaza was triggered by Hamas assaults by which round 1,200 individuals had been killed and 253 taken hostage, of whom about half are nonetheless in Gaza, in accordance with Israeli tallies.
In certainly one of numerous protests in Israel since Oct. 7 to push for motion to safe the discharge of the hostages, some 200 ladies marched in Tel Aviv on Friday, together with one pulled alongside in a cage. They chanted “Their time is running out, bring them back”.
Israeli cupboard minister and former army chief Gadi Eizenkot mentioned a deal could be wanted for the hostages to be launched alive.
Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades, a Gaza-based militant group allied to Hamas, mentioned on Friday an Israeli soldier it was holding captive had been killed in an Israeli air strike, in accordance with a video launched by the group to media shops.
The footage confirmed the wounded hostage being operated on earlier than he spoke in Hebrew urging Israeli leaders to achieve a settlement with Gaza teams that will safe their launch. There was no Israeli military remark.
The Russian overseas ministry mentioned on Friday it had obtained a delegation from Hamas and had urged it to launch the hostages, together with three Russian nationals. Hamas mentioned either side emphasised the significance of reaching a ceasefire.