Israeli strikes kill at least 31 in Gaza as UN agencies warn of fuel crisis

DEIR AL-BALAH Gaza Strip AP Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight killed at least people according to local hospitals as United Nations agencies warned that critical fuel shortages put hospitals and other critical infrastructure at danger The latest attacks came after U S President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held two days of talks last week that ended with no sign of a breakthrough in negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage release Twelve people were killed by strikes in southern Gaza including three who were waiting at an aid distribution point according to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis which received the bodies Shifa Hospital in Gaza City also received bodies including three children and two women after a series of strikes in the north according to the hospital s director Dr Mohammed Abu Selmia Al-Awda Hospital released seven killed and wounded in strikes in central Gaza The Israeli military says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas Fuel dilemma warning U N agencies including those providing food and soundness care reiterated a warning made at the weekend that without adequate fuel they will likely be forced to stop their operations entirely In a joint message they noted that hospitals are already going dark and ambulances can no longer move Without fuel travel water production sanitation and telecommunications will shut down and bakeries and society kitchens cannot operate they reported The agencies endorsed that various liters of fuel entered Gaza last week the first delivery in days But they stated it is a small fraction of what is needed each day to keep daily life and critical aid operations running The United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners cannot overstate the urgency of this moment fuel must be allowed into Gaza in sufficient quantities and consistently to sustain life-saving operations they reported The agencies signing the announcement were the U N humanitarian office OCHA food agency WFP healthcare organization WHO children s agency UNICEF the agency helping Palestinian refugees UNRWA population agency UNFPA evolution agency UNDP and UNOPS which oversees procurement and provides management services Strike kills Hamas militant who held hostage Israel s military reported a June strike killed Muhammad Nasr Ali Quneita a senior Hamas militant who it mentioned had taken part in the Oct attack and held hostage Emily Damari a dual Israeli-British citizen in his home at the start of the war There was no comment from Hamas and no independent confirmation Thousands of Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel that day killing certain people mostly civilians and abducting people majority of whom have since been distributed in ceasefire agreements or other deals The militants are still holding hostages less than half of them thought to be alive Israel s retaliatory offensive has killed over Palestinians according to Gaza s Wellness Ministry which has disclosed women and children make up more than half of the dead It does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its tally The ministry is part of the Hamas-run cabinet and is led by clinical professionals The United Nations and other experts consider its figures to be the the majority reliable count of war casualties Israel s air and ground war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and driven several of the population from their homes Aid groups say they have struggled to bring in food and other assistance because of Israeli military restrictions and the breakdown of law and order and experts have warned of famine