The Israeli army bombs Gaza as pressure mounts for a ceasefire

Dozens of Israeli raids bombed the Gaza Strip over the weekend, while Israeli and Hamas officials resumed indirect ceasefire talks through mediators in Qatar.

The Israeli army said on Sunday that it had struck more than 100 targets across the Strip over the weekend, including sites from which militants fired projectiles toward Israeli territory. He added that the raids killed Hamas activists and that the army took measures to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians. These allegations could not be independently verified.

The Gaza Ministry of Health said in a statement on Sunday that 88 Palestinians were martyred in Israeli raids during the past 24 hours. Gaza Civil Defense Emergency Services AgencyIt said its crews responded to several air strikes on family homes on Sunday, killing and wounding several people.

Pressure is mounting on both sides to reach a ceasefire agreement that includes the release of hostages held in Gaza before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office on January 20.

Hamas said on Friday evening that its officials would resume their meetings in the Qatari capital, Doha Reaching a ceasefire agreement. Israel said last week that it would also send a delegation of mid-level security officials to meet with mediators in Qatar.

Many previous rounds of negotiations faltered amid gaps in the demands of both sides. As hopes rise for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas again, Palestinians and human rights organizations say The human condition In Gaza, despair is increasing.

Palestinian Red Crescent Society He said on Sunday Nighttime Israeli air strikes near Al Amal Hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis caused severe damage to several hospital facilities and killed one person.

The Gaza Ministry of Health said on Sunday that the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza was no longer providing its services to the sick or wounded – leaving the northern part of the Strip Without any functioning hospitals Amidst continuous bombardment.

The Israeli army has been launching an attack in northern Gaza for more than three months against what it says is the rising power of Hamas.

Aaron Puckerman She contributed to this report.