Israel carried out deadly airstrikes in Gaza, including one on a UN-run school that killed 16 people, amid ongoing violence in the region. Diplomatic efforts to halt the war, entering its tenth month, continued with Israel sending a delegation to Qatar for talks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesman noted “gaps” remaining with Hamas on securing a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The fighting in Gaza intensified, with airstrikes targeting areas across the Gaza Strip, resulting in multiple casualties, including journalists and UNRWA employees. The United States, along with Qatar and Egypt, mediated talks and expressed optimism for a potential deal. Pressure for a hostage release deal grew in Israel, with calls for an end to the conflict to reunite families.
The war, sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel, has left a devastating toll on civilian populations, infrastructure, and food security in Gaza. The main obstacle to a truce has been Hamas’s demand for a permanent end to the fighting, a condition rejected by Netanyahu.
In addition to the conflict in Gaza, tensions escalated on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where Israel and Hezbollah engaged in cross-border fire. The fear of a broader conflict involving Iran loomed as the situation intensified. The recent exchange of airstrikes between the two sides highlighted the ongoing regional instability.
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