By WAFAA SHURAFA and FATMA KHALED
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes throughout Gaza killed no less than 25 folks on Friday together with youngsters, hospital staff stated, as the brand new U.S. ambassador to Israel made his first public look in Jerusalem.
The useless included 15 folks killed in three strikes on the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, in response to Nasser Hospital, which acquired the our bodies. Ten folks have been killed in Jabaliya, together with eight from the identical residence, in response to the Indonesian Hospital, the place the our bodies have been introduced.
The strikes got here a day after greater than two dozen folks died in Gaza as Israel continued assaults, pressuring Hamas to return the hostages and disarm.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee visited the Western Wall on Friday, the holiest Jewish prayer web site in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis. He inserted a prayer into the wall, which he stated was handwritten by U.S. President Donald Trump. “These are his initials, D.T.,“ stated Huckabee whereas displaying the word to the media.
In his first act as ambassador, Huckabee stated Trump instructed him to hope for the peace of Jerusalem. Huckabee additionally stated each effort was being made to deliver residence the remaining hostages held by Hamas. A one-time presidential hopeful, Huckabee has acknowledged his previous help for Israel’s proper to annex the West Financial institution and incorporate its Palestinian inhabitants into Israel however stated it could not be his “prerogative” to hold out that coverage.
Throughout his first time period, Trump acknowledged Jerusalem as Israel’s capital over Palestinian objections and moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv. Palestinians search the japanese a part of town, captured by Israel within the 1967 Mideast struggle, as their future capital.
Huckabee’s arrival comes at a pivotal time within the 18-month struggle, as worldwide mediators together with the U.S. are attempting to get a damaged ceasefire again on observe.
Israel is demanding that Hamas launch extra hostages at the beginning of any new ceasefire and finally comply with disarm and depart the territory. Israel has stated it plans to occupy giant “security zones” inside Gaza.
Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating delegation, stated Thursday the group had rejected Israel’s newest proposal alongside these traces. He reiterated Hamas’ stance that it’s going to return hostages solely in change for the discharge of extra Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a long-lasting truce, as referred to as for within the now-defunct ceasefire settlement reached in January.
Hamas at present holds 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
Friday’s airstrikes got here a day after support teams raised alarm over Israel’s blockade of of Gaza, the place it has barred entry of all meals and different items for greater than six weeks. 1000’s of youngsters have grow to be malnourished, and most of the people are barely consuming one meal a day as shares dwindle, the United Nations stated.
Israel’s Protection Minister says the blockade is without doubt one of the “central pressure tactics” in opposition to Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off support to keep up its rule. Help staff deny there may be important diversion of support, saying the U.N. carefully displays distribution. Rights teams have referred to as it a “starvation tactic.”
The struggle started when Hamas-led terrorists attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 folks, largely civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group by america, Canada, and European Union.
Many of the hostages have since been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers.
Israel’s offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, largely ladies and youngsters, in response to Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatanFts. The struggle has destroyed huge elements of Gaza and most of its meals manufacturing capabilities. The struggle has displaced round 90% of the inhabitants, with a whole lot of 1000’s of individuals residing in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.
Khaled reported from Cairo. Related Press author Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.
Initially Printed: April 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM EDT
