At least 19 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza overnight, prompting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to head to the region to try to seal a cease-fire deal. In the town of Deir al-Balah, a woman and her six children were killed in their home. Another strike in Jabaliya killed two men, a woman, and her daughter. The UN shared videos showing the extensive damage caused by Israel during the 10-month-long war in northern Gaza. In total, over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, leading to a humanitarian catastrophe with experts warning of famine and disease outbreaks.
Mediators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar have been working to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, with an evolving proposal calling for the release of hostages by Hamas and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has signaled resistance to new demands by Israel, highlighting the challenges in reaching a resolution.
An Israeli delegation is set to travel to Cairo for further talks, while Blinken is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The hope is to bring an end to the deadliest war between Israelis and Palestinians by addressing the humanitarian crisis and finding a path to peace.
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