The war began when Hamas-led militants blew holes in the border fence and stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. They killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead.

Gaza's civil defence agency has said 30 people, including 13 children, were killed in Israeli strikes on two houses in the north of the Palestinian territory.

Israeli tanks have surrounded a Gaza hospital, its director told CNN, as strikes reportedly hit the vicinity of other healthcare facilities in the Strip, heightening fears Friday that Israel’s military campaign is further endangering patients and medical staff in the besieged territory.

Israeli Defense Forces have reportedly surrounded Gaza City’s biggest hospital, which they say sits on top of an underground Hamas command center. Heavy fighting near the al-Shifa Hospital took place Friday and Israeli forces said it had killed dozens of militants and destroyed some of Hamas’ notorious terror tunnels where they harbor leaders and stash weapons,