Aug. 24 (UPI) — Military strikes in Khan Younis and other parts of Gaza have killed dozens as Hamas representatives meet in Cairo, Egypt, amid cease-fire and hostage release negotiations
Israeli Defense Forces killed at least 69 Gazans in military strikes during the past two days, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported.
On Saturday morning, 37 died, including four women and children,
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that the al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis again was targeted but there were no injuries.
The Health Ministry does not distinguish Hamas militants and Gaza’s civilian population when reporting casualties.
The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 40,000 since Hamas militants attacked Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.
IDF officials say Hamas is holding 109 hostages in Gaza and estimate about a third of them are dead.
The United States has eight citizens among the hostages, several of whom the IDF says likely are dead.
Israeli activists have scheduled demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel on Saturday to pressure the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a cease-fire and hostage release agreement with Hamas and end hostilities in Gaza.
The demonstrations also are to call for new elections that could see Netanyahu voted out of office.
The Hamas delegation in Cairo is there to be briefed on recent talks with Israeli representatives earlier in the week, but several contentious issues are preventing a deal.
Those issues include potential IDF control of the Rafah Border Crossing into Egypt and the Philadelphi Corridor, which is a nearly 9-mile strip of land separating the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
