Israeli strikes kill 30 in Gaza as talks set to resume

At least 30 people, including children, have been killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes, hospital staff say, as sirens also 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 overnight and on Friday that hit various places in Central Gaza, including Nuseirat, Zawaida, Maghazi and Deir al Balah.

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.

The Israeli army did not comment on the latest strikes. However, in a statement on Friday, it said during the past day it had struck dozens of Hamas gathering points and command and control centres throughout Gaza, areas where Hamas had planned and executed attacks.

The army said measures were taken to mitigate civilian harm, such as using precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

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

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

Associated Press reporters saw friends and colleagues mourning over his body at the hospital, with a media vest laid on top of his shroud.

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 under way, efforts at ceasefire negotiations were expected to resume Friday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had authorised a delegation from the Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security agency and the military to continue negotiations in Qatar.

The delegation is leaving for Qatar on Friday.

The US-led talks have repeatedly stalled during 15 months of war, which was sparked by Hamas-led militants' October 7, 2023, attack into Israel.

The militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted about 250.

About 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third believed to be dead.

Israel's offensive in retaliation has killed more than 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 per cent of Gaza's population of 2.3 million, many of them multiple times.