Israeli forces have killed more than 30 people in new attacks in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medics said, the day after judges at the top United Nations court ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
Though Israel pressed on with its offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday, mediated negotiations between the two sides are due to restart next week, an official with knowledge of the matter said.
The decision on talks was taken after the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency met the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, said the source, declining to be identified by name or nationality given the sensitivity of the matter.
“At the end of the meeting, it was decided that in the coming week negotiations will open based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with active US involvement,” the source said.
Hamas did not immediately comment on the talks.
The International Court of Justice, or World Court, has no means to enforce its emergency ruling in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
But the case was a stark sign of Israel’s global isolation over its campaign in Gaza, particularly since it began its offensive against Rafah this month against the pleas of its closest ally, the United States.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Saturday demanded that Israel obey the ruling. Writing on the social media platform X, Albares said the ICJ ruling was “mandatory” and demanded “a ceasefire, the release of hostages and humanitarian access.”
More than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, Gaza’s health ministry says. Israel began the offensive after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Further north in the coastal territory, where the Israeli military says it is trying to prevent Hamas from re-establishing its hold, Palestinian medical workers reported Israeli airstrikes they said killed at least 17 people while both sides reporting ground fighting.
A total of 31 Palestinians were killed in the past day in the Gaza Strip, according to local medical officials. They do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.
Animals and birds were evacuated from Rafah Zoo and moved to makeshift shelters in the Khan Younis refugee camp.
Israel has said it is carrying out operations in Rafah, despite growing international opposition, to remove Hamas battalions holed up there. Some of its hostages are also being held there, it says.
So far, fighting has taken place on Rafah’s southern edge and eastern districts, away from the most populated areas. The United States has called on Israel not to enter more central neighbourhoods, saying Israel has yet to show a credible plan for how this can be done without causing mass casualties.
In another development high waves and stormy seas have damaged the temporary pier set up last week by the United States to provide humanitarian supplies.
Eyewitnesses said on Saturday that the makeshift harbour is currently out of action, with workers repairing the damage at the scene.
Israeli television station N12 reported that parts of the pier had been swept to the coast near the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, 30 kilometres away.
The temporary harbour is serving as a hub for the delivery of desperately needed aid supplies as Gaza itself has no harbour deep enough for larger cargo vessels.
with DPA
