DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes within the Gaza Strip killed no less than 18 folks in a single day, together with six girls and 4 kids, well being officers mentioned Tuesday, as Israel and Hamas gave the impression to be narrowing in on a ceasefire deal to end the 15-month war and launch dozens of hostages.
Officers have expressed mounting optimism that they’ll conclude an settlement within the coming days after greater than a yr of talks which have repeatedly stalled.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the meantime fired a missile at central Israel, setting off sirens and sending folks fleeing to shelters with out inflicting any casualties. Police mentioned a number of properties have been broken outdoors Jerusalem and launched a photograph of a missile casing that had crashed right into a roof.
Two strikes within the central Gaza metropolis of Deir al-Balah killed two girls and their 4 kids, who ranged in age from 1 month to 9 years previous. One of many girls was pregnant and the newborn didn’t survive, based on Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which obtained the our bodies.
One other 12 folks have been killed in two strikes on the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, based on the European Hospital.
There was no rapid remark from the Israeli navy. Israel says it solely targets militants and accuses them of hiding amongst civilians in shelters and tent camps for the displaced.
Israel and Hamas have come underneath renewed strain to halt the battle within the lead-up to the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, whose Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, lately joined U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators within the Gulf nation’s capital, Doha.
The phased deal could be primarily based on a framework laid out by President Joe Biden in Might and endorsed by the U.N. Safety Council.
Within the first part, Hamas would launch dozens of probably the most weak hostages seized in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war in trade for dozens of Palestinian prisoners as Israeli forces pull again from inhabitants facilities. At the least some Palestinians could be allowed to return to their properties and there could be a surge of humanitarian support.
Within the second part, Hamas says it will launch the remaining hostages in trade for numerous prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal and a long-lasting ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to maintain combating till Hamas’ navy and governing capabilities have been destroyed and it not poses a menace. The hole between the 2 sides could be negotiated in the course of the first part.
Hamas-led militants killed round 1,200 folks within the Oct. 7 assault and kidnapped one other 250. Some 100 hostages are nonetheless being held inside Gaza. The Israeli navy believes that no less than a 3rd and as much as half of them are lifeless.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, greater than half of them girls and youngsters, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say how lots of the lifeless have been combatants. The Israeli navy says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, with out offering proof.
The offensive has reduced large areas of the territory to rubble and displaced round 90% of Gaza’s inhabitants of two.3 million, with tons of of 1000’s packed into tent camps alongside the coast where hunger is widespread.
The conflict has rippled throughout the area, igniting over a yr of combating between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants that ended with a tense ceasefire in November. Israel has additionally traded direct fire with Iran, which backs Hamas, Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis.
The Israeli navy mentioned it made a number of makes an attempt to intercept the missile launched from Yemen early Tuesday and that “the missile was possible intercepted.” It mentioned an earlier missile fired from Yemen was additionally intercepted.
The Houthis, who captured Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and far of the nation’s north in 2014, have launched a collection of missile and drone assaults on Israel and have attacked worldwide transport within the Crimson Sea. The Houthis say they’re combating in solidarity with the Palestinians, however the overwhelming majority of the focused ships don’t have any connection to the battle.
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Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel.