Israeli forces seized control of the Gaza parliament and other government buildings in the city on Tuesday, according to a statement from the Israeli army. The army reported that it had taken over the Hamas parliament, government building, police headquarters, and an engineering faculty used for weapon development.
Read more:Israeli Forces Target Gaza Hospitals in Escalating Conflict
The death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 11,240, including 4,630 children, since October 7, as reported by the Gaza media office. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson expressed deep concern about the “dramatic loss of life” in Gaza hospitals and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Hamas has rejected Israeli army claims that a discarded baby bottle, makeshift toilet, and bullet-scarred motorbike were evidence of hostages being held inside a Gaza hospital. The army had stated that these objects indicated Hamas was holding hostages in the basement of Al-Rantisi children’s hospital in Gaza City, but the Hamas health ministry dismissed the allegation as “poor staging” with no evidence to support it.
The ministry explained that the basement was originally designated as a storage area in the hospital’s blueprints and was used by displaced residents seeking shelter from the fighting.
