Gaza reels after deadly Israeli strikes kill 65, target Sinwar's brother

Israeli forces ramped up attacks on Gaza, killing at least 65 Palestinians since midnight, as Israeli media reported on Tuesday evening, citing informed sources, that the army attempted the assassination of Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar in Khan Younis.

Israeli news site Ynet stated that Israel did not inform the US of the attempted killing, since it was unplanned and instead a "clear opportunity" that came about, leaving no time to inform Washington of key developments.

The source told the news site that the attempted killing also came as US President Donald Trump was giving a speech during his visit to Saudi Arabia.

The source further explained that there has been no confirmation yet on the success of the operation, adding: "The situation seems fine now, and if [Mohamemd Sinwar] was present [at the time of the attack], it is unlikely that he would have survived because it was an extremely violent attack".

Following the strikes, the Israeli army issued a statement saying they targeted a "command and control centre below the European Hospital," and stating they had taken steps to "minimise civilian casualties".

However, the Hebrew news site Walla reported that plans for the assassination of Sinwar started more than six months ago, and were a joint collaboration between the head of the Shin Bet’s operations division and the head of the Israeli military’s southern command.

Without providing any evidence for their claims, the Israeli security establishment said that Sinwar was hiding in an underground complex containing meeting rooms and a command centre, built beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis.

A 'bloody night' in Gaza

The reported assassination attempt comes as Israeli forces intensified attacks on Gaza, killing scores of people, mostly civilians who were sheltering in residential buildings.

At least 45 of the people killed were in north Gaza, where Israel has expanded its operations and levelled many neighbourhoods in their entirety.

Videos circulating on social media showed piles of dead bodies in corridors of the Indonesian Hospital in north Gaza, while medical staff scrambled to tend to survivors.

Civil defence teams described the continued attacks as "horrific", while eyewitnesses said the army launched the consecutive attacks without any prior warning or giving time for civilians to flee.  

Despite Trump, who is visiting Saudi Arabia this week, saying that he is working to end the war on Gaza as soon as possible, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue bombarding the Strip.

"There will be no situation where we stop the war," the Israeli premier said.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks in Qatar are continuing, with the US’ special envoy Steve Witkoff telling families of captives held in Gaza there was a "genuine chance for progress".

The latest developments come as the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said that water is declining in Gaza amid the ongoing stifling blockade.

The agency said that around 75 percent of homes in the Strip have less water access now than a month ago.

A UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza also revealed that 93 percent of people in the enclave are living with acute food shortages.

It also found that 470,000 people, or 22 percent of the population, are expected to be in the catastrophic category by the end of September.