Israel pounds Gaza after Trump wraps up regional trip! Kills 82!!
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Deir Al-Balah/Gaza Strip: At least 82 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza on Friday, as Trump wrapped up his regional trip. Strikes overnight and into Friday hit across Gaza, including the outskirts of Deir al-Balah and the city of Khan Younis, the Associated Press reported.
At least 66 people were killed, according to the Indonesian hospital, where most of the bodies were taken. Another 16 bodies were taken to Nasser hospital, said health officials.
The widespread attacks across northern Gaza come as Trump finishes his visit to Gulf states but not Israel.
There had been widespread hope that Trump's regional visit 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.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the strikes, which lasted hours into Friday 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, according to Gaza's health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed earlier in the week to push ahead with a promised escalation of force in Israel's war in the Gaza Strip to pursue his aim of destroying the Hamas militant group, which governs Gaza.
In comments released by Netanyahu's office Tuesday, the prime minister said Israeli forces were days away from entering Gaza “with great strength to complete the mission ... It means destroying Hamas.”
It was unclear if Friday's bombardment was the start of the operation.
An Israeli official said Cabinet members were meeting Friday to assess the negotiations in Qatar, where ceasefire negotiations are taking place, and to decide on next steps. The official was not authorised to brief the media on the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.
On Friday, families of the hostages said they awoke 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.
