Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza as Trump says ceasefire potential “subsequent week”

Israeli strikes throughout Gaza killed not less than 72 individuals from Friday into Saturday morning, officers with the Hamas-run well being ministry mentioned.

Amongst these killed have been 12 individuals close to the Palestine Stadium in Gaza Metropolis, which was sheltering displaced individuals, in accordance with workers at Shifa hospital the place the our bodies have been introduced, the Related Press reported. Greater than 20 our bodies have been taken to Nasser Hospital, in accordance with well being officers. A strike noon Saturday killed 11 individuals on a road in japanese Gaza Metropolis, and their our bodies have been taken to Al-Ahli Hospital.

Three kids and their mother and father have been killed in an Israeli strike on a tent camp in Muwasi close to the southern metropolis of Khan Younis. They have been struck whereas sleeping, kinfolk mentioned.

“What did these kids do to them? What’s their fault?” mentioned the youngsters’s grandmother, Suad Abu Teima.

The strikes come as President Trump on Friday mentioned there might be a ceasefire settlement between Israel and Hamas inside the subsequent week.

“I feel it is shut,” Mr. Trump advised reporters within the Oval Workplace when requested concerning the prospect of a ceasefire within the Gaza Strip. “We expect inside the subsequent week, we’ll get a ceasefire.”

Israel and Hamas haven’t publicly commented on the standing of any potential settlement.

The Trump administration has pushed for a pause in combating since Mr. Trump returned to the White Home in January. Nevertheless, a deal has confirmed elusive up to now. Talks have been on once more, off once more since Israel broke the newest ceasefire in March, persevering with its army marketing campaign in Gaza and furthering the Strip’s dire humanitarian disaster.

Late final month, Mr. Trump’s Center East envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a 60-day ceasefire. Beneath that proposal, Hamas would launch 10 residing hostages and the stays of 18 lifeless hostages who have been taken to Gaza throughout Hamas’ 2023 assault on Israel, in accordance with a duplicate obtained by CBS Information. Israel would launch 125 “life sentence” prisoners, 1,111 Palestinian detainees and 180 deceased Palestinians as a part of the deal.

Israel supported that proposal, however Hamas mentioned it responded with “some notes and amendments.” Witkoff referred to as the response from Hamas “completely unacceptable” in a Might 31 submit on X.

An official with data of the state of affairs advised the AP that Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, will arrive in Washington subsequent week for talks on Gaza’s ceasefire, Iran and different topics. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk to the media.

Some 50 hostages stay in Gaza, fewer than half of them believed to nonetheless be alive. They have been a part of some 250 hostages taken when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparking the 21-month-long battle.

The battle has killed over 56,000 Palestinians, in accordance with Gaza’s Hamas-run Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. It says greater than half of the lifeless have been girls and kids.

There’s hope amongst hostage households that Trump’s involvement in securing the latest ceasefire between Israel and Iran would possibly exert extra strain for a deal in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using a wave of public help for the Iran battle and its achievements, and he may really feel he has extra space to maneuver towards ending the battle in Gaza, one thing his far-right governing companions oppose.

Hamas has repeatedly mentioned it’s ready to free all of the hostages in alternate for an finish to the battle in Gaza. Netanyahu says he’ll solely finish the battle as soon as Hamas is disarmed and exiled, one thing the group has rejected.

In the meantime, hungry Palestinians are enduring a catastrophic state of affairs in Gaza. After blocking all meals for two 1/2 months, Israel has allowed solely a trickle of provides into the territory since mid-Might.

Efforts by the United Nations to distribute the meals have been affected by armed gangs looting vans and by crowds of determined individuals offloading provides from convoys.

Palestinians have additionally been shot and wounded whereas on their technique to get meals at newly fashioned help websites, run by the American and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Basis, in accordance with Gaza’s well being officers and witnesses.

Palestinian witnesses say Israeli troops have opened hearth at crowds on the roads heading towards the websites. Israel’s army mentioned it was investigating incidents wherein civilians had been harmed whereas approaching the websites.