Dozens killed in Israeli strikes on refugee camps across Gaza

Attack on municipal office in central Gaza leaves Nuseirat mayor dead

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli air strike in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza. AFP

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At least 23 Palestinians were killed early on Friday in Israeli strikes on refugee camps across Gaza, with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar vowing the militant group will fight on until its ceasefire conditions are met.

The attacks killed five people in Nuseirat camp, including Mayor Iyad Al Maghari, and at least six in Maghazi camp, in central Gaza, the Wafa news agency reported.

Mr Al Maghari was killed when Israeli forces attacked a municipal office in central Gaza.

Several people were wounded and at least two bodies were recovered from beneath the rubble after Israeli forces pounded a house near Al Salam Mosque in the Sabra district of Gaza city, civil defence said.

Israeli forces also carried out air, land and sea attacks on northern, central and southern Gaza overnight on Thursday.

Since Israel's war on the Gaza Strip began in October, more than 36,600 people have been killed and about 83,300 have been injured, figures show.

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Elsewhere, the Israeli military said on Friday that it launched an attack on various Hezbollah sites in Lebanon.

The strikes took place on the Jabal Rezlane region, in southern Lebanon, as well as the villages of Ramyah and Kfar Kila.

Hezbollah “military structures” were hit in the overnight strikes, the military said.

Meanwhile, Russia and China, which hold veto powers on the UN Security Council, raised concerns on Thursday evening about a draft US resolution that would back a proposal outlined by President Joe Biden for a ceasefire.

The council's only Arab member, Algeria, also signalled it was not ready to back the draft resolution.

The draft needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the five permanent members – the US, France, Britain, China or Russia – to pass.

Mr Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip a week ago that he described as an Israeli initiative.

Washington is seeking international support for the plan that Hamas is still studying.

It circulated a one-page draft resolution to the 15-member Security Council on Monday and a revised version on Wednesday, Reuters reported.