An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Saturday killed at least 18 members of the same family, disrupting cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas. Mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar had expressed optimism for a deal to end the 10-month-old war, with hopes for implementation details to be worked out in Cairo next week. The war has devastated Gaza, with over 40,000 deaths and fears of a possible polio outbreak.
The airstrike hit a house and warehouse sheltering displaced people in Zawaida, resulting in the deaths of wholesale merchant Sami Jawad al-Ejlah, his two wives, their 11 children, grandmother, and three other relatives. The Israeli military claimed to have targeted terrorist infrastructure in central Gaza.
In response to Palestinian rocket fire, Israel ordered another mass evacuation in central Gaza, forcing civilians to leave their homes and belongings. The ongoing conflict has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population, causing fear and anxiety among residents.
The war began when Hamas militants crossed the border, killing civilians and abducting hostages who are still being held. Israel claims to have killed thousands of Hamas militants, but the exact number is disputed. A total of 40,074 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
In the West Bank, Israel also targeted a terrorist cell in Jenin, resulting in two casualties. The region remains unstable as the conflict continues, with hopes for a cease-fire deal still uncertain.
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