By Nidal al-Mughrabi
CAIRO (Reuters) – Israeli military strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 17 Palestinians, eight of them at a school housing displaced families in Gaza City, doctors said, as the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of a hospital in the north.
Palestinian doctors said eight people, including children, died at the Musa Bin Nusayr school housing displaced families in Gaza City.
The Israeli military said in a statement that the attack targeted Hamas militants operating from a command center embedded inside the school. He said Hamas militants used the location to plan and execute attacks against Israeli forces.
Also in Gaza City, doctors said four Palestinians were killed when an airstrike hit a car.
At least five other Palestinians were killed in two separate airstrikes in Rafah and Khan Younis, south of the enclave.
In the northern Gaza city of Beit Lahiya, where the army has operated since October, Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said the army ordered staff to evacuate the hospital and transfer patients and wounded to another hospital in the area.
Abu Safiya said the mission was “almost impossible” because staff did not have ambulances to transport patients.
The Israeli military has operated in the two northern Gaza towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, as well as the nearby Jabalia camp for almost three months.
Palestinians have accused Israel of carrying out acts of “ethnic cleansing” to depopulate those areas and create a buffer zone.
Israel denies this and says the campaign in the area was aimed at fighting Hamas militants and preventing them from regrouping. He said his forces have killed hundreds of militants and dismantled military infrastructure since that operation began.
The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they killed many Israeli soldiers in ambushes during the same period.
Mediators have yet to reach a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas.
Sources close to the discussions told Reuters on Thursday that Qatar and Egypt had been able to resolve some differences between the warring parties, but sticking points remained.
Israel began its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli counts. Israel says about 100 hostages are still being held, but it is unclear how many are alive.
Gaza authorities say Israel’s campaign has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the population of 2.3 million. Much of the coastal enclave is in ruins.
(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi. Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta Editing by Christian Schmollinger and French (BCBA:) Kerry)