At Least 30 People Killed by Israeli Strikes in Gaza

At least 30 people, including children, were killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes overnight and into Friday morning, said hospital staff, as air sirens sounded across Israel and stalled ceasefire talks were set to resume.

Staff at the Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital said more than a dozen women and children were killed in strikes that hit various places in Central Gaza, including Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi and Deir al-Balah.

Among those killed early Friday, was Omar al-Derawi, a freelance journalist.

Associated Press reporters saw friends and colleagues mourning over his body at the hospital with a press vest laying on top.

Dozens of people were also killed across the enclave the previous day, bringing the total of people killed in the past 24 hours to 56.

Strikes Thursday hit Hamas security officers and an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone.

The Israeli army did not immediately comment on the latest strikes, but says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths.

Israelis also woke up to attacks early Friday morning.

Israel said missiles were fired into the country from Yemen, which set off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and central Israel and sent people scrambling to shelters.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, though a faint explosion, likely either from the missile or from interceptors, could be heard in Jerusalem. Israel's army said a missile was intercepted.

As the attacks were underway, efforts at ceasefire negotiations were expected to resume Friday.

Israel’s offensive in retaliation has killed over 45,500 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the territory's Health Ministry, which says women and children make up more than half the dead.

The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tally.

Israel's military says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because its fighters operate in dense residential areas.

The army says it has killed 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

The war has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, many of them multiple times.