At least 93 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza yesterday as US President Donald Trump wrapped up his regional trip.
Strikes overnight hit across Gaza, including the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and the city of Khan Younis. The Gaza Health Ministry said hundreds more were injured in addition to those killed.
The widespread attacks come as Trump finishes his visit to Gulf states, but not Israel. There had been widespread hope that his regional trip could usher in a ceasefire deal or renewal of humanitarian aid to Gaza. An Israeli blockade of the territory is now in its third month.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Speaking to reporters at a business forum in Abu Dhabi on the final day of his trip, Trump said he was looking to resolve a range of global crises, including Gaza.
“We’re looking at Gaza,” he said. “And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”
Israel yesterday it was continuing its operations against militants in Gaza and that it struck 150 targets in the past day, including anti-tank missile posts and military structures.
In northern Gaza, it eliminated several militants who were operating in an observation compound, it said.
The strikes lasted for hours into yesterday morning and sent people fleeing from the Jabaliya refugee camp and the town of Beit Lahiya. They followed days of similar attacks that killed more than 130 people, the ministry said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in this week to push ahead with a promised escalation of force in Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip to pursue his aim of destroying Hamas.
An Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the strikes yesterday were preparatory actions in the lead-up to a larger operation and to send a message to Hamas that it would begin soon if there is not an agreement to release hostages.
Cabinet members met yesterday to assess the negotiations in Qatar and to decide on next steps, the official said.
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer yesterday said that Israel’s military is intensifying its operations, as it has done since Hamas stopped releasing hostages.
“Our objective is to get them home and get Hamas to relinquish power,” he said, adding that Israel would continue pressuring Hamas and that it is getting results.
Families of the hostages yesterday said they awoke up with “heavy hearts” to reports of increased attacks and called on Netanyahu to “join hands” with Trump’s efforts to release the hostages.
“Missing this historic opportunity for a deal to bring the hostages home would be a resounding failure that will be remembered in infamy forever,” the families said in a statement released by the hostage forum, which supports them.
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