Bombing continues in Gaza as U.S. says Israel is ready to restart talks
Israel’s forces said they struck dozens of militant targets, including tunnels; meeting between Israeli and American officials have been rescheduled; Tel Aviv’s campaign has so far killed at least 32,552 Palestinians, mostly women and children
attles and bombardment pounded the Gaza Strip on Thursday after Washington said Israel had agreed to reschedule talks that had been cancelled amid tensions between the allies.
Israel’s military said it struck dozens of militant targets, including tunnels, over the previous day, and the Health Ministry in Hamasrun Gaza reported at least 62 more deaths over a similar period.
The U.S. criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mounted over Gaza’s civilian
Bdeath toll, dire food shortages, and Israeli plans to push its ground offensive against Hamas militants into Rafah.
Gaza’s farsouthern city is crowded with displaced civilians and world leaders have warned against a Rafah offensive.
The UN reported late on Wednesday that famine “is ever closer to becoming a reality in northern Gaza,” and said the territory’s health system is collapsing “due to ongoing hostilities and access constraints”.
Strike on hospital
Bombardment and fighting have not eased despite a binding UN Security Council resolution passed on Monday demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza and the release of hostages held by militants.
Mr. Netanyahu had scrapped an Israeli delegation’s visit called by Washington to discuss the Rafah plan — a protest after the U.S. had abstained from voting on the UN ceasefire resolution, allowing it to pass.
Israel’s government has since backtracked. White House spokeswoman Karine JeanPierre said Israel had agreed “to reschedule the meeting dedicated to Rafah”.
U.S. officials say they plan to present Israel with an alternative for Rafah, focused on striking Hamas targets while limiting the civilian toll. Even without a ground invasion, Rafah is under regular bombardment that on Wednesday left the city’s alKuwaiti Hospital coping with the wounded and the dead.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 32,552 people, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.