World Desk

At least 28 Palestinians, including four children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, hospital officials reported Saturday.

Thirteen of the victims, including the children and two women, died in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza after heavy bombardment began late Friday, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Four more were killed in an attack near a fuel station, while another 15 people lost their lives in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, Nasser Hospital said.

The Israeli military said its forces had struck around 250 targets across Gaza in the past 48 hours, targeting militants, weapons depots, tunnels, booby-trapped structures, and other Hamas infrastructure. The military did not comment on civilian casualties despite requests from the Associated Press.

The ongoing conflict began after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages during their October 7, 2023, assault. Around 50 hostages remain in captivity, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive.

Israel’s military campaign has since claimed the lives of over 57,000 Palestinians, with more than half reported to be women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, its figures are widely regarded by the U.N. and other international agencies as the most reliable.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said efforts are underway to secure a new ceasefire that could lead to more hostage releases and potentially bring the war to an end. However, his recent meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended without significant progress.