SRINAGAR: Israeli airstrikes and gunfire killed at least 41 Palestinians overnight and into Thursday in the Gaza Strip, hospitals reported, as Hamas continued to deliberate on its response to a United States proposal aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long conflict, reports Washington Post.
Medical officials said the casualties included women and children, with strikes targeting residential areas in Gaza City and the southern town of Khan Younis. Dozens more were injured, overwhelming hospitals already struggling with shortages of medicines and fuel due to the ongoing blockade.
The Israeli military confirmed conducting operations, claiming they were aimed at Hamas strongholds and infrastructure. It said the strikes were in retaliation for rocket fire into southern Israel earlier in the week, though no casualties were reported on the Israeli side.
The escalation came as Hamas leaders met to discuss a proposal advanced by US President Donald Trump, which Washington has described as a framework for ending hostilities and initiating talks on reconstruction and political arrangements in Gaza. While details of the plan have not been publicly disclosed, Palestinian officials said it includes conditions Hamas views as unacceptable, including security concessions to Israel.
The latest violence underscores the fragility of efforts to broker a ceasefire in a war that has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more since its outbreak nearly two years ago. Egypt and Qatar, which have played key roles in past mediation efforts, have reportedly stepped up shuttle diplomacy in the wake of the strikes.
The United Nations has urged both sides to show restraint, warning of further civilian suffering if the conflict continues to escalate.
