At least 30 people killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza as stalled ceasefire talks set to resume

Overnight Israeli strikes kill 30 in Gaza, as ceasefire talks resume amid escalating violence and civilian casualties.

At least 30 people, including children, were killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes overnight and into Friday morning, hospital staff said, 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 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 Friday was Omar al-Derawi, a freelance journalist. Associated Press reporters saw friends and colleagues mourning over his body at the hospital, with a press vest laid on top of his shroud.

On Friday, Israel issued a new warning for people to leave an area of central Gaza immediately, saying it was going to attack following launches from there toward Israel.

Israelis also woke up to attacks early on 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 underway, efforts at ceasefire negotiations were expected to resume on Friday.