Israeli airstrikes killed at least 21 people, including two children, in Gaza on Saturday, hospital staff said, as ceasefire talks went into a second day in Qatar after almost 15 months of war.
A boy cried over his father’s body in Khan Younis. A woman wept, throwing herself on a body wrapped in white plastic. Strikes hit cars, homes, and streets, killing five in Gaza City, three in Bureij and three in Deir al-Balah. Gaza’s Health Ministry said 59 people died and more than 270 were wounded in the past 24 hours.
Ceasefire efforts have gone nowhere so far, as Netanyahu says Hamas must be “demolished,” and Hamas fighters regroup. The mediators include Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., which plans an $8 billion weapons sale to Israel.
It all started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 250. Hundreds of hostage families have been demonstrating every week for a ceasefire, as 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Not long ago, Hamas released a video of captive Israeli soldier Liri Albag, held for 450 days, appealing for her release.
The conflict has killed at least 45,717 Palestinians in Gaza, displaced 90% of the population, and devastated infrastructure. Israel claims it targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian casualties, while Gaza’s Health Ministry reports widespread destruction and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
