Israeli forces on Tuesday struck the Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza, killing at least five people and wounding several others, as the military intensified its offensive across the besieged territory.
Rescue workers said the airstrike hit a house in the densely populated camp, west of Gaza City. Additional raids targeted areas near a mosque in the Zeitoun neighborhood, south of the city.
The attacks came alongside new forced evacuation orders from the Israeli military, covering 16 areas in northern Gaza — including Gaza City and Jabalia. A spokesperson described the directive as “urgent,” warning residents to move south toward al-Mawasi, which Israel claims is a “safe zone,” though it has also been bombed repeatedly.
The latest bombardment follows a deadly day in which at least 78 Palestinians were killed in strikes across the territory, according to local officials.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israel’s military campaign has now killed at least 58,386 people and injured more than 139,000 since it began. The UN Population Fund warned this week that humanitarian operations are on the verge of collapse, as fuel supplies remain blocked by Israel’s siege.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the fighting are still underway. Qatar confirmed Tuesday that indirect talks between Hamas and Israel are ongoing in Doha, with the aim of brokering a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told reporters there is “no deadlock” in the negotiations, which have involved daily discussions among mediators in Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. He said talks with Hamas and Israel are being held separately to shape a framework agreement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week said the parties are “closer than we’ve been in quite a while” to a deal.
Ansari condemned what he called Israel’s “reckless” and “irresponsible” policies, urging international powers to hold it accountable. He warned that Israeli actions have endangered not only Gaza and the West Bank but also Lebanon, Syria, and the Gulf region, including Qatar itself during recent escalations with Iran.
“We cannot accept the absence of accountability,” he said, calling for urgent international intervention to stop the violence.