"Israel-Hamas Conflict: Hospitals in Gaza City at Risk as Fighting Intensifies"

Israel has revised its official death toll of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, lowering the number to about 1,200 people from more than 1,400. Concerns are growing for hospitals and sheltering civilians in Gaza City as Israeli troops close in on major hospitals, raising fears of harm from Israeli strikes and running street battles. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest in Gaza, has been struck multiple times, and there are allegations that it is being used by Hamas as a military compound. Israel's public defenders have refused to represent the Oct. 7 attackers, arguing that the existing legal process for terrorist cases is ill-suited to this situation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concern over the high number of Palestinian casualties and emphasized the need for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. Negotiations are underway between Hamas and Israel for the release of civilian hostages, with Qatar mediating the talks.