Israel pounds Gaza as Iran attack threat puts region on edge, martyrs' toll at 33,634
GAZA, Palestine (AFP) - Residents reported heavy Israeli fire in central Gaza on Friday, with regional tensions soaring after Iran threatened reprisals over a strike in Syria this month that killed two Iranian generals.
As ceasefire talks aiming to pause the six-month-old war dragged on, fears that Iran could soon launch an attack on Israel spurred France to recommend its citizens avoid travelling to the region. The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said that at least 33,634 people have been martyred in the territory during more than six months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes at least 89 deaths over the past 24 hours, a statement said, adding that 76,214 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began.
Mohammed al-Rayes, 61, told AFP that he fled Israeli 'air strikes and artillery shelling' in Nuseirat, central Gaza overnight. "It was all fire and destruction, with so many martyrs lying in the street," he said. Another resident, Laila Nasser, 40, reported "shells and missiles" throughout the night. "They will do to Nuseirat what they did to Khan Yunis," said Nasser, vowing to flee to the southernmost city of Rafah, like most of Gaza's population.
Israel last week pulled its troops from the devastated city of Khan Yunis after months of fighting, but officials said they were preparing for operations against Hamas militants in Rafah, near the Egyptian border. Authorities in the Hamas-ruled coastal Palestinian territory on Friday reported dozens of new air strikes in Gaza's central region. The Hamas media office said 25 people were taken to hospital in Deir al-Balah city "as a result of an air strike on a house of the al-Tabatibi family."
Syria strikes
Israel's military said its aircraft had struck more than 60 militant targets in Gaza over the previous day. The war began with Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack against Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,634 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's health ministry. The ministry's updated toll on Friday included at least 89 deaths over the previous day.
The latest bombardments in Gaza came after Israel said it was strengthening air defences and paused leave for combat units, following a deadly April 1 air strike that destroyed Iran's consulate building in Damascus. Iran blamed Israel, its arch foe, which has stepped up strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria since the Gaza war began. Among the targets have been fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement in Syria. The group has also exchanged regular deadly fire with Israel over the Lebanese border since October.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said late Thursday he had received phone calls from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock as well as her British and Australian counterparts.
'Significant attack'
In a post on X, the Iranian minister said he had told them that "when the Zionist regime breaches the immunity of diplomatic persons and places" and the UN Security Council fails to condemn it, "legitimate defence... is a necessity".
He added that "Iran does not seek to expand the scope of the war." United States President Joe Biden had on Wednesday said Iran is "threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel," and pledged "ironclad" support for Washington's top regional ally despite diplomatic tensions over Israel's military conduct in Gaza.
US Central Command chief, General Michael Kurilla, was in Israel on Thursday to discuss the situation with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, the Pentagon said. France on Friday warned its nationals against travelling to Iran, Israel, Lebanon or the Palestinian territories, after the US embassy in Israel announced it was restricting the movements of its diplomats over security fears.
Netanyahu leads a coalition including religious and ultra-nationalist parties, and is under pressure from anti-government protesters and relatives of the hostages demanding the government get them home. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets. On Thursday night, hundreds demonstrated near Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence with a different call -- for the war to continue.
