Gaza: At least 56 Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Thursday by Israeli airstrikes and gunfire, according to the territory's health ministry, as international mediators intensified efforts to revive stalled ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
A deadly Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering displaced families in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City, killing at least nine people, officials said. Another nine were reported dead in a separate strike targeting a tent camp near Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, medics said Israeli troops opened fire on civilians gathered to receive humanitarian aid in central Gaza, killing three and wounding dozens more. Such incidents have become increasingly common at aid distribution points.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to Thursday’s events. Israeli officials maintain that their operations aim to dismantle Hamas, the group behind the October 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The latest surge in casualties comes as Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States, are working to reengage both sides in truce negotiations. However, no date has yet been set for renewed talks, Hamas sources said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government includes far-right factions, has demanded the full release of hostages and a complete disarmament and removal of Hamas from power as preconditions for ending the war.
Hamas, on the other hand, has indicated willingness to hand over the hostages if Israel commits to a permanent ceasefire and withdraws from the Gaza Strip. While it has reportedly agreed to step down from governance, it continues to reject disarmament demands.
According to local health authorities, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed over 56,000 people and caused widespread devastation across the enclave. Most hostage releases to date have occurred through indirect negotiations.
