Israel continues attacks on Gaza despite UN Court ruling

Israeli forces killed more than 30 people in new attacks in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian doctors said on Saturday (25), a day after judges at the United Nations' top court ordered Israel to suspend its offensive on the southern city of Rafah. Gaza.

Although Israel has continued its offensive against the Palestinian group Hamas, mediated talks between the two sides are expected to resume 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 given to them. sensitivity of the subject.

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

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

After more than seven months of war in Gaza, mediators have struggled to secure 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 (24) ordering Israel to immediately halt its military assault on Rafah, where it says it is trying to eradicate Hamas fighters.

The International Court of Justice, or World Court, does not have the means to enforce its emergency decision in the case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.

But the case was a clear sign of Israel's global isolation during 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, the Gaza health ministry says. Israel began the offensive after Hamas-led fighters attacked communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli records.

Battles in Gaza

The Israeli military said it carried out “operational activities in specific areas of Rafah” on Friday, including killing fighters, dismantling part of the Hamas tunnel system and locating weapons caches.

Further north, in the coastal territory where the Israeli military says it is trying to prevent Hamas from re-establishing its rule, Palestinian medical officials 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 combatant casualties.

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

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

The Israeli military 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 said it was carrying out operations in Rafah, despite growing international opposition, to remove Hamas battalions hiding there. Some of his hostages are also being held there, Israel says.

The city became 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 just in the east, where they invaded, but in the center and western sides. 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 in the far south and eastern districts of Rafah, far from the most populated areas. The United States has called on Israel not to enter the most central neighborhoods, saying Israel has not yet presented a credible plan for how this can be done without causing mass casualties.