More than 1,000 doctors and nurses have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, a Palestinian news agency reported, and Israel issued a new evacuation order for Gaza City as 35 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours.

Over 1,000 doctors, nurses killed in Gaza since October 2023

More than 1,000 doctors and nurses have been killed in Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict escalated in October 2023, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing the enclave’s government.

According to the government statement cited by WAFA, “more than 310 health workers in the enclave have been arrested, tortured and executed in prisons. In addition, the Israeli army prohibits the entry of medicines into the Gaza Strip and prevents visits by medical delegations and doctors. Hospitals remain a target for the Israeli army, which bombs, besieges and storms them, killing and injuring doctors and nurses,” the document added.

Israeli military issues new evacuation order for Gaza City

Israel has issued a new evacuation order for Gaza City as 35 Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours.

Footage verified by Al Jazeera confirmed that the Israeli military has issued new displacement orders in the Shujayea neighbourhood of Gaza City.

“An urgent warning” urging Palestinians to leave the area was published on social media at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday – two hours after sunset. It led hundreds of Palestinians to leave the area in the dark, taking with them whatever they could carry, after the army threatened that the neighbourhood would turn into a “dangerous war zone.”

Palestinians in Gaza City face further hardship due to the poor weather conditions, with torrential rains threatening residents due to extensive damage to sewage and storm water networks.

Asem Alnabih, a spokesman for the Gaza City municipality, said on Twitter/X that heavy rain has been falling in the city since Sunday morning.

He said that since October 7 last year, “the [Israeli] occupation has destroyed more than 175,000 metres of sewage pipelines, 15,000 metres of stormwater drainage systems, and 105,000 metres of water supply networks”.

Alnabih added:

“There is an urgent need to provide pipes and materials to repair the Sheikh Radwan Basin drainage system. Delays in providing the necessary pipes and equipment for the Sheikh Radwan drainage repairs could lead to a catastrophic disaster, endangering the lives of residents and displaced families in homes and shelters near the basin.”

According to the latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, 44,211 people have been killed and 104,567 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023.
That number includes 35 Palestinians killed and 94 wounded in the past 24 hours.

Ceasefire deal between Israel, Hezbollah within two days: Israeli media

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah will be announced within two days, Israeli media reported on Monday.

Public broadcaster KAN, citing an Israeli source, reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a US-backed ceasefire with Lebanon.

According to the broadcaster, Netanyahu gave the go-ahead to US envoy Amos Hochstein to conclude a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon. KAN reports that the agreement will be announced within two days.

Israeli sources say the ceasefire agreement with Lebanon is ready and Netanyahu is now working on how to present it to the public.

According to KAN, talks are currently centred on Israel’s freedom of action on the borders with Lebanon and Syria after the agreement is finalised.

The radio station, citing knowledgeable sources, said Tel Aviv has received US guarantees allowing Israel to “act militarily if Hezbollah violates the terms of the ceasefire.” Hezbollah and Lebanese authorities have not yet commented on the report.

Last week, Hezbollah Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said the Lebanese group had submitted its comments on the US ceasefire proposal, stressing that the issue now depends on the seriousness of Netanyahu’s intentions to reach an agreement.

Israel has stepped up airstrikes in Lebanon against Hezbollah targets it claims to be targeting as part of a years-long war with the Lebanese group since the start of the Gaza war last year.

Since October last year, Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 3,600 people, injured more than 15,300 and displaced more than 1 million, according to Lebanese health authorities.

Israel widened the conflict by launching a ground attack on southern Lebanon on October 1 this year.