Israeli raid on a school in Gaza: 12 dead, including women and children

Attack on the Mustafa Hafez school in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood. Hamas considers truce proposal but demands guarantees on aid and IDF withdrawal

Twelve people, mostly women and children, were killed today in an Israeli air raid that hit a school in the heart of Gaza. The attack targeted the Mustafa Hafez building, located in the western neighbourhood of Al-Rimal, where displaced persons were being housed. This was reported by the Palestinian Civil Defence, which also said that there were numerous injuries. The Israeli army, questioned by the AFP agency, said it was “examining” the reports.

Meanwhile, on the diplomatic front, there have been important developments. Hamas has welcomed the new ceasefire proposal put forward with the mediation of the United States, although several issues remain unresolved. According to Asharq News, the Palestinian group’s official response is expected by tomorrow evening.

Among the critical points raised by Hamas are the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave. However, the movement has said it wants to examine the proposal “responsibly” and is open to compromise, provided that Palestinian interests are safeguarded.

According to the New York Times, the plan promoted by Washington provides for a 60-day ceasefire divided into five phases. During this period, Hamas is expected to release 10 hostages who are still alive and return the bodies of 18 other deceased prisoners. This is a substantial change from the May draft, which called for the release of all hostages in the first seven days of the truce.

On the Israeli front, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated the government’s hard line, promising to “eradicate Hamas” despite pressure from President Donald Trump for a ceasefire. “We will destroy them to their foundations. We will free all our hostages,” he said during a visit to Ashkelon in southern Israel.

Defence Minister Israel Katz, who travelled to Rafah on the southern border of the Strip today with IDF Southern Command Major General Yaniv Asor, made similar statements. ‘Hamas has not changed. We have two objectives: to bring back the hostages and to end the threat posed by Hamas. We will not give up,’ Katz said.

While diplomats try to find a way out of the conflict, the bombings continue to hit densely populated areas, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

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