Israel pounds Gaza on 99th day of war

Fears of the conflict widening have grown after US and British forces struckpro-Hamas Huthi rebels in Yemen following attacks on Red Sea shipping, with afresh US air strike confirmed Saturday, reports BSS.
Witnesses reported Israeli bombardment of Gaza in the early morning, and anAFP journalist said Friday that strikes and shelling had hit areas betweenGaza's southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah, crowded with people who havefled from the north.
All internet and telecommunications services in Gaza were cut Friday as aresult of Israeli bombardment, the main operator Paltel said.
"Gaza is blacked out again," it said in a post on social media platform X.
The Palestinian Red Crescent posted that the disruption was increasing thechallenges in "reaching the wounded and injured promptly".
Israel's relentless bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 23,708 people,mostly women and children, according to the latest health ministry figures.
The war began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7, whichresulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to anAFP tally based on official figures. The militant group also seized about 250hostages.
- 'Systematic' aid blocking -
UN aid agency OCHA's head for the occupied Palestinian territories told AFPon Friday that Israel was constantly blocking humanitarian aid convoys intonorthern Gaza.
"They have been very systematic in not allowing us to support hospitals,which is something that is reaching a point of a level of inhumanity that forme is beyond comprehension," Andrea De Domenico said.
In central Gaza, a lack of fuel forced the shutdown of the main generator ofAl Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, the health ministry said.
"Does anyone care about us? Why is everyone silent?" asked one mourner at ahospital where a group of Palestinians had gathered beside white body bagsholding the latest casualties.
But the war didn't stop Afnan and Moustapha from getting married in Rafah,near the border with Egypt.
"The house where the groom was supposed to live was destroyed, and as the warpersisted, we thought it best for them to get married," Ayman Shamlakh, thegroom's uncle, told AFP.
"We are all living through the same tragedy. However, we must continue tolive, and life should go on."
Mohamed Gebreel, father of the bride, said he had no doubts about going aheadwith the ceremony.
"We are a people that love life despite death, murders and destruction," hesaid.
- Medicines deal -
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Friday a deal had beennegotiated with Qatar to get medicine to hostages still being held in Gaza.
The deal "will allow the entry of medicines for the hostages held by theHamas terrorist organisation in Gaza", Netanyahu's office said in astatement.
Israeli campaign group Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a reportthis week saying the captives were in poor health, some with complexillnesses, others with injuries.
A diplomat familiar with the negotiations told AFP that both sides hadexpressed a willingness to allow the delivery of medicines.
"The mediators are now in the process of finalising the details" of the typeand quantities of medicines required, as well as the conditions for theirdelivery, the source said.
A source close to Hamas confirmed to AFP that talks had been held on allowingthe entry of medicines, but that discussions were ongoing.
- 100 days -
Israel criticised the UN human rights office for not reiterating its callsfor the release of the hostages in a statement marking the looming 100th dayof the conflict.
"A call for a ceasefire, without demanding the release of our hostages andthe disarming of Hamas, is a call for terrorism to win," its office in Genevasaid.
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, has called repeatedlyfor the hostages to be freed.
In the occupied West Bank, Israeli troops killed three militants after theyattacked a Jewish settlement, the army said.
It said there had been a "terrorist infiltration" in the Adora settlement,some 20 kilometres (12 miles) west of Hebron, and soldiers had come underfire.
The soldiers searched the area and "three assailants were identified andneutralised by the security forces".
When questioned by AFP, the Israeli army confirmed the death of the threeassailants, while the Palestinian agency Wafa identified them as a 19-year-old and two 16-year-olds.
Since the war in Gaza broke out, violence in the occupied West Bank has alsosurged, with at least 337 people killed by Israeli troops or settlers,according to the health ministry in Ramallah.