At least 40 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, hospital officials reported on Wednesday. This comes as international mediators intensify efforts to finalize a ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a second meeting in two days with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Tuesday evening. Trump is actively pushing for a ceasefire deal that could bring an end to the 21-month-long conflict in Gaza.
Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union, are currently reviewing a new ceasefire proposal supported by Washington. The plan aims to suspend hostilities, facilitate the release of Israeli hostages, and deliver much-needed aid to Gaza, AP reports.
Civilian Casualties and Military Operations
Nasser Hospital, located in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, stated that among the deceased were 17 women and 10 children. According to the hospital, one strike tragically killed 10 people from the same family, including three children.
The Israeli military did not comment on specific strikes but affirmed that it has hit over 100 targets across Gaza in the past day, including militants, booby-trapped structures, weapons depots, rocket launchers, and tunnels. Israel accuses Hamas of concealing weapons and fighters among civilians.
War’s Toll and Diplomatic Push
The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Most hostages have since been released during previous ceasefires.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, over half of whom are women and children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government in Gaza, does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The United Nations and other international organizations consider its figures to be the most reliable statistics for war casualties.
Netanyahu told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that he and Trump are in “complete agreement” on the necessity of destroying Hamas. He added that cooperation and coordination between Israel and the U.S. have never been stronger in Israel’s 77-year history.
Later this week, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Doha, Qatar, to continue indirect negotiations with Hamas regarding the ceasefire proposal. Witkoff indicated that three key points of disagreement have been resolved, but one significant issue remains open, though he did not specify what it was.
