The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 54,677, with 125,530 others injured, since the outbreak of the conflict between Hamas and Israel on Oct 7, 2023, Gaza's health authorities reported on Thursday.
The report said that over the past 24 hours, Israeli attacks had killed 70 Palestinians and injured 189 others, bringing the number of killed to 4,402 and injured to 13,489 since Israel intensified its military campaign on March 18, following a brief ceasefire.
Three Palestinian journalists were among those killed and two others were among the wounded after they were attacked in an Israeli airstrike on the courtyard of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, Palestinian sources said on Thursday.
Local sources and eyewitnesses said that an Israeli drone launched at least one missile in a surprise attack on a group of journalists gathered in the hospital's courtyard.
Fadel Naeem, director of the Al-Ahli Hospital, said that the airstrike killed three journalists instantly. Two others were critically injured and taken into surgery.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike targeted an Islamic Jihad operative at the site.
In a statement, the IDF said it had "precisely struck an Islamic Jihad terrorist who was operating in a command and control center in the yard of the Al-Ahli Hospital."
"The command and control center was used by the terrorists to plan and execute attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops," the statement added. Hamas identified the journalists killed as Samir al-Rifai, a reporter for the local Shams news website, and Suleiman Hajjaj and Ismail Badah, both working for the Palestine Today television channel.
According to local authorities, 225 journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 54,677
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 54,677
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
