Israeli strikes target vicinity of al-Shifa, Indonesian hospitals in Gaza

By Anadolu staff

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes near the Al-Shifa Hospital and Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip late Friday, according to Al-Aqsa TV.

No information was available on casualties.

The broadcaster, affiliated with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, said the airstrikes also targeted the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza.

Clashes were reported between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces in different areas in northern Gaza, it added.

Hamas' armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said its fighters were resisting an Israeli ground invasion in the Beit Hanoun area in northern Gaza and east of the al-Bureij camp.

Another Gaza-based Palestinian group, Islamic Jihad, also said its fighters were confronting attempts by Israeli forces to advance into Gaza.

The Israeli army on Friday widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a cross-border attack by Hamas.

The conflict escalated dramatically after Hamas’ military wing carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by firing thousands of rockets and sending hundreds of fighters into Israeli towns.

Israel responded with an uninterrupted campaign of air and artillery strikes on the Gaza Strip, and the government announced that it is preparing for a ground offensive to root out Hamas.

More than 8,700 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are grappling with shortages of food, water, and medicine due to Israel’s massive air bombardment and total blockade of the enclave.