Israel continues attacks on Gaza after World Court ruling

Israeli forces killed more than 30 people in new attacks in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian doctors said on Saturday, a day after judges at the UN’s top court ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Although Israel has continued its offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, mediated talks between the two sides are expected to restart next week, an official with knowledge of the matter said.

The decision on the talks was made after the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met with the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, the source said, declining to be identified by name or nationality due to the sensitivity of the matter. subject.

“At the end of the meeting, it was decided that negotiations will begin next week based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar, and with the active participation of the US,” the source said.

Hamas did not immediately comment on the status of the negotiations.

After more than seven months of war in Gaza, mediators have struggled to achieve a breakthrough, with Israel seeking the release of hostages held by Hamas and Hamas seeking the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and an end to the war.

Fighting continued in Gaza despite mediation and despite judges at the United Nations’ top court on Friday ordering Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in Rafah, where it says it is trying to root out Hamas fighters.

The International Court of Justice, or World Court, does not have the means to enforce its emergency ruling in the case brought by South Africa, which accuses Israel of genocide. However, the case is a clear sign of Israel’s global isolation due to its campaign in Gaza, especially since it began its offensive against Rafah this month against the pleas of its closest ally, the United States.

More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive on Gaza, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel began the offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli counts.

FIGHTING IN GAZA

The Israeli army said it carried out “operational activity in specific areas of Rafah” on Friday, including eliminating militants, dismantling part of the Hamas tunnel system and locating weapons caches.

Further north in the coastal territory, where the Israeli army says it is trying to prevent Hamas from reestablishing its control, Palestinian medical workers reported Israeli airstrikes that they said killed at least 17 people.

A total of 31 Palestinians were killed in the last day in the Gaza Strip, according to local medical authorities. They do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.

Hamas, which rules Gaza, and the smaller armed group Islamic Jihad said their fighters fired anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs at Israeli troops in the north.

Residents and civil emergency services said Israeli tanks entered deep into the Jabalia area, destroying dozens of homes, shops and roads.

The Israeli army said its troops in Jabalia “eliminated dozens of terrorists in hand-to-hand combat and airstrikes.”

Palestinian medical teams have been unable to reach the area, where they believe more people were killed.

Israel has said it is carrying out operations in Rafah, despite growing international opposition, to remove Hamas battalions that have holed up there. It also says that some of their hostages are being held there.

The city has become a refuge for Gazans fleeing fighting elsewhere in the enclave. After Rafah also became a target, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the city.

“The occupation forces keep the city under bombardment, not only in the east where they invaded, but also in the center and west, they want to scare people into leaving the entire city,” said a Rafah resident, who asked not to be identified.

So far, fighting has occurred on the southern edge and in the eastern districts of Rafah, far from the most populated areas. The United States has called on Israel not to enter more central neighborhoods, saying Israel has not yet presented a credible plan for how this can be done without causing mass casualties.

Via Reuters.