By WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An in a single day Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza Metropolis killed 23 folks, as Arab mediators labored on a proposal to finish the struggle with Hamas that would come with a five-to-seven-year truce and the discharge of all remaining hostages, officers stated Wednesday.
There was no instant Israeli touch upon the strike, which set a number of tents ablaze, burning folks alive. The army says it solely targets combatants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas as a result of its fighters are embedded in densely populated areas. One other six folks had been killed in separate strikes, together with 5-year-old twin ladies.
France, Germany and Britain in the meantime stated Israel’s seven-week blockade on all imports to Gaza, together with meals, was “intolerable,” in unusually sturdy criticism from three of the nation’s closest allies.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas known as on Hamas to launch the hostages with a purpose to “block Israel’s pretexts” for persevering with the struggle. He reiterated his calls for that Hamas quit their arms, referring to them as “sons of dogs” in unusually sturdy language throughout a speech within the West Financial institution.
Abbas, who heads the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, has no affect over Hamas however seeks a job in postwar Gaza. Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, stated anybody making such insults has “lost their physical, psychological and mental eligibility for these leadership positions.”
A yearslong truce and a gradual withdrawal
Egypt and Qatar are nonetheless creating the proposal, which would come with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the discharge of Palestinian prisoners, based on an Egyptian official and a Hamas official who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to transient media.
Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas final month and has vowed to proceed the struggle till all of the hostages are returned and Hamas is destroyed or disarmed and despatched into exile. It says it would maintain components of Gaza indefinitely and implement President Donald Trump’s proposal for the resettlement of the inhabitants in different international locations, which has been extensively rejected internationally.
Hamas has stated it would solely launch the handfuls of hostages it holds in return for Palestinian prisoners, an entire Israeli withdrawal and a long-lasting ceasefire, as known as for within the now-defunct settlement reached in January. A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo late Tuesday to debate the evolving proposal.
The Egyptian official stated the proposed truce, with worldwide ensures, would final between 5 and 7 years, and {that a} committee of politically impartial technocrats would govern Gaza — a measure Hamas has accepted.
The Hamas official stated the group is open to a long-term truce that features the entire withdrawal of Israeli forces and worldwide ensures, naming Russia, China, Turkey or the United Nations Safety Council as doable guarantors.
Israel and the U.S. say Hamas should be destroyed or eliminated
There was no instant remark from Israeli officers. Israel has dominated out any association that may enable Hamas to protect its affect in Gaza and rearm. The Trump administration, which has additionally been concerned within the ceasefire talks, has stated it totally helps Israel’s place.
Israel and the U.S. have pressed Hamas to just accept a short lived truce during which it could instantly launch a number of hostages in return for obscure guarantees of talks on a extra everlasting ceasefire. Hamas has rejected these proposals and says it received’t disarm so long as Israel occupies Palestinian territory.
The Hamas official stated the group doesn’t belief Netanyahu or the U.S. after they shattered the prevailing ceasefire settlement, which had facilitated the discharge of over 30 hostages and practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The Egyptian official stated mediators had the impression that Trump desires a deal earlier than he visits the area subsequent month. Trump will journey to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from Could 13 to Could 16.
France, Germany and Britain condemn Israeli meals blockade
Israel ended the ceasefire by launching a shock bombardment throughout the territory that killed a whole bunch of Palestinians. Floor forces have expanded a buffer zone alongside the border and encircled the southern metropolis of Rafah and now management round 50% of the territory.
Israel says the army operations and the tightened blockade are techniques to stress Hamas to launch hostages. Support teams say hundreds of kids are malnourished and most of the people are surviving on one meal a day or much less.
“The Israeli decision to block aid from entering Gaza is intolerable,” France, Germany and Britain stated of their assertion. Additionally they condemned latest remarks by Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz, who stated the blockade was a stress tactic and that troops would maintain components of Gaza indefinitely.
“Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change. Israel is bound under international law to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid,” the European assertion stated.
Israeli International Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein rejected the criticism, disputing in a put up on social media that there’s a scarcity of assist in Gaza. He stated Israel was entitled to dam the help as a result of it says Hamas seizes it for its personal use.
Along with the strike on the college, the Civil Protection, first responders who function underneath the Hamas-run authorities, stated it recovered 4 our bodies from strikes on two properties in the identical space. One other strike hit a house east of Gaza Metropolis, killing the dual ladies, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 51,000 Palestinians, principally girls and kids, based on the Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say how most of the useless had been fighters or civilians. Israel says it has killed round 20,000 combatants, with out offering proof.
The struggle started when Hamas-led fighters stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 folks, principally civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group by america, Canada, and European Union.
Hamas nonetheless has 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive, after a lot of the relaxation had been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers.
Magdy reported from Cairo.
Initially Revealed: April 23, 2025 at 12:22 PM EDT
