The death toll from the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip reached 66 people yesterday, with 17 of them, including children, killed in a strike near a medical center in Deir al-Balah, the Palestinian enclave's Civil Defense reported, quoted by Agence France-Presse and BTA.
This morning, an Israeli bombardment hit a group of people waiting outside a medical center in Deir al-Balah, Mohammad al-Mughayir, an employee of a first aid organization, told AFP. He said 17 people were killed, including eight children.
The Israeli army told AFP that the strike targeted a member of the Palestinian movement's elite Nuhba unit, whom the military said was involved in the "October 7 massacre" in 2023.
The Israeli army expressed regret for "all the casualties inflicted on innocent people" and announced that it was doing "everything possible to limit civilian casualties".
The military did not comment on the other incidents reported by the Palestinian Civil Defense and they could not be independently verified, AFP noted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that an agreement would be reached within a few days to release most of the Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian movement "Hamas", Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
In an interview with the American television "Newsmax", the Israeli prime minister specified that 50 hostages were still being held captive by "Hamas". It is believed that 20 of them are alive.
""I want to take them all. "We currently have an agreement that assumes we will return half of the living and half of the dead," Netanyahu said. "There are 10 living and about 12 dead hostages left, but I will take them back. We hope we can finish in a few days," he added.
The Israeli prime minister said his country and "Hamas" are likely to conclude a 60-day truce, during which they will try to negotiate an end to the conflict.
On Wednesday, the Palestinian movement said that several major obstacles remain in the ongoing truce talks, including the delivery of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and "real guarantees for a permanent ceasefire".
Netanyahu gave his interview during his third visit to Washington since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
The Israeli prime minister said he was ready to negotiate a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the 60-day truce, provided that the Palestinian territory is demilitarized, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
"At the beginning of the truce (from 60 days) we will begin negotiations for the final end of the war," Netanyahu said in a video message from Washington, released today amid indirect talks between Israel and "Hamas" in Qatar.
He chose a few more conditions – "Hamas" must disarm, Gaza must be demilitarized, "Hamas" must no longer have either military or administrative capabilities".
"If this can be achieved through negotiations – good. If not, we will achieve it in another way – through the power of our heroic army," he added.
Meanwhile, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said today that a team of the organization had delivered 75,000 liters of fuel to the Gaza Strip – the first delivery in 130 days.
"The quantity delivered yesterday is not enough to cover the energy needs for even one day. The fuel is still running low and the suppliers will stop working if much larger quantities are not allowed in immediately," he added.