Hamas health ministry says more than 60 killed in Gaza strikes

AFP | Jerusalem, Undefined                                                           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported early yesterday more than 60 Palestinians killed in Israeli military strikes across the territory overnight.

It said dozens of people were also wounded in what the militant group’s media office described as “intense” Israeli strikes and artillery bombardments across the Gaza Strip.

The strikes hit the southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah, as well as areas around Gaza City, the media office said.

It said two hospitals, a girls’ school and “dozens” of homes were among the targets.

Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have been hit repeatedly by Israeli strikes in Gaza since the war erupted.

The Israeli military accuses Hamas of having tunnels under hospitals and using them as command centres, as well as exploiting civilian infrastructure in general to shield its activities -- a charge the Islamist group denies.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7, resulting in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.