Israeli airstrikes kill over 100 in Gaza overnight as ceasefire talks in Qatar stall. Hospitals overwhelmed and four journalists confirmed dead.
Israeli Airstrikes Kill Over 100 in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Falter
At least 103 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza overnight and into Sunday, according to local hospitals and medical officials. The strikes are part of Israel’s intensified campaign to pressure Hamas, seize more territory, and tighten control over aid distribution in the region.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported that complete families were “wiped off the civil registration record” in some areas, and that the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza was forced to shut down due to the bombardment.
Rising Death Toll and Closed Hospitals
The health ministry said 464 people have been killed in Israeli military operations over the past week alone. On Sunday:
- 48 people, mostly women and children, were killed in and around Khan Younis, including in tents housing displaced families, according to Nasser Hospital.
- In Deir al Balah, three separate strikes killed at least 12 people, according to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and the Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
- 19 people were reported killed in Jabalia, northern Gaza, following multiple strikes there.
Hamas and Israel Resume Talks in Doha
Ceasefire negotiations are underway in Qatar this weekend. Israeli officials confirmed that discussions involve not only a truce and hostage exchange but also terms for ending the war.
However, an Israeli official said “little progress” had been made so far. A Palestinian source claimed Hamas had offered to release half of its Israeli hostages in exchange for a two-month ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
“Hamas is flexible about the number of hostages it can free,” said one official close to the talks. “The real issue is Israel’s refusal to commit to ending the war.”
Four Journalists Killed in Weekend Airstrikes
The Gaza Journalists’ Syndicate confirmed the deaths of four Palestinian journalists over the weekend, amid a growing toll on media workers in the conflict:
- Abdel Rahman al Abadleh was found dead in al Qarara, southern Gaza, after being missing for two days.
- Aziz al Hajjar, his wife and children were killed in Bir al Naaja, northern Gaza.
- Ahmed al Zenati, his wife Noor al Madhoun, and their children were killed in Khan Younis.
- Nour Qandil, her husband Khaled Abu Seif, and their daughter died in a strike on Deir al Balah.
Health Ministry: Israel Targeting Hospitals
In a statement Sunday, Gaza’s health ministry accused Israel of intensifying a campaign against hospitals, saying that European Gaza Hospital had been bombed days earlier and that the Indonesian Hospital was now also under siege.
Israel has previously denied deliberately targeting hospitals, accusing Hamas of using medical facilities for military purposes. However, independent analysis by Sky News has raised questions about the evidence behind these claims.
Israeli Government: No Truce Without Demilitarisation
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that any lasting ceasefire would require the demilitarisation of Gaza and the exile of Hamas leadership. These conditions remain major sticking points in the ongoing negotiations.
Missile Intercepted from Yemen
In a separate development, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Sunday. The Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, claimed responsibility, stating it had targeted Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
This marks the latest in a series of Houthi attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, prompting Israeli airstrikes in Yemen in retaliation.