Residents in central Gaza reported heavy bombardment during Israel's attempt to rescue four hostages held since October 7.
Dozens of people have been killed, according to health authorities and Palestinian media. Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari put the casualties at fewer than 100. It was not clear how many of them were civilians and how many were militants.
Khalil Daklan, spokesman for the Deir Balah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, said a large number of dead were taken to the medical facility, the last large medical center in central Gaza. The exact death toll could not be verified.
Gaza's Health Ministry said ambulances and emergency services in central Gaza were unable to respond to the many calls to take the wounded to hospitals.
Video footage from inside Al-Aqsa Hospital shared by the Ministry of Health showed a chaotic scene as medical staff struggled to treat bloodied victims lying side by side on the floor. Two men held intravenous bags next to a victim with a bandaged face writhing in pain under a blanket.
