The new wave of Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza overnight, killing at least 19 people, including several children, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the region in a bid to broker a ceasefire deal.
The latest strikes targeted several locations, including a home in Deir al-Balah, killing a woman and her six children, aged 18 months to 15 years old.
The children’s grandfather, Mohammed Awad Khatab, described the devastating scene, saying, “The six children have become body parts. They were placed in a single bag.”
Further airstrikes hit residential buildings in Jabaliya and central Gaza, killing several more people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The attacks came as mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar appeared to be closing in on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, following two days of talks in Doha.
Hamas has signalled resistance to what it claims are new demands by Israel.
However, The proposed deal reportedly involves a three-phase process, starting with the release of hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel, which sparked the deadliest war ever fought between Israelis and Palestinians.
Blinken’s arrival in the region aims to help finalize the ceasefire agreement, but the situation remains volatile.
The UN has expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with a spokeswoman for UNRWA sharing footage of the extensive damage caused by Israeli strikes in northern Gaza.
As the negotiations continue, the international community holds its breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The stakes are high, with the lives of innocent civilians hanging in the balance.
