Concern grows on civilians trapped by fighting in Gaza's south as martyrs' toll soars to 26,083

GAZA, Palestine (AFP) - Concern grew on Friday for civilians trapped by fighting around Khan Yunis in Gaza's south as the toll of the martyred Palestinians soared to 26,083.

The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the latest toll includes 183 fatalities over the past 24 hours, while 64,487 people have been wounded in Gaza since the war erupted on October 7. "Many people are still under the rubble and rescuers cannot reach them," the ministry added. 

Further north on the outskirts of Gaza City, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Thursday that 20 people were killed and another 150 wounded while they waited for humanitarian aid to be distributed.

"People were going to get food and flour as they had nothing to eat," Abu Ata Basal, the uncle of one of the wounded, told AFP. "Suddenly, tanks appeared and started firing shells at the people, who were cut into pieces."

Bodies were seen lying on the floor of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, an AFP journalist said. Hamas said the incident amounted to a "horrific war crime", which Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said was caused by "artillery shells and missiles". AFP was unable to verify that claim independently and the Israeli military did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

UN shelter hit

The Gaza City strike came a day after the United Nations said tanks had shelled a UN shelter in Khan Yunis, killing 13 people.

France called on Israel to "comply with  international law" and joined the United States in condemning the Khan Yunis strike, although it did not directly identify Israel as responsible. The Israeli military is the only force known to operate tanks in Gaza, which Hamas has ruled since 2007.

Hamas also reported fierce clashes in the centre and west of Khan Yunis, the hometown of Hamas's Gaza chief Yahya Sinwar, the suspected mastermind of the October 7 attacks.