Gaza (TDI): At least eight Palestinians were killed on Friday when an Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering displaced families in northern Gaza, according to local health officials.
The school had been serving as a refuge for dozens of civilians who had fled fighting in surrounding areas. Several others were injured in the bombing, with some reportedly in critical condition.
Photos from the Israeli side of the border showed bright flashes in the sky and plumes of smoke rising from Gaza, as explosions rocked the densely populated enclave for a second consecutive day.
Netanyahu Offers Conditional Ceasefire Amid Pressure
Speaking in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government was open to a 60-day temporary ceasefire to pave the way for a more permanent resolution, but only if three key conditions were met.
According to Netanyahu, a lasting ceasefire would require full disarmament of Hamas, the dismantling of its political and military structure, and removal of Hamas from any future governance role in Gaza.
Read More: US Sanctions UN’s Francesca Albanese For Exposing Israeli War Crimes in Gaza
If these conditions are not fulfilled during the temporary ceasefire, Israel will not hesitate to resume military operations,” Netanyahu warned. “One way or another, we will achieve our security objectives.”
While the fighting in Gaza continues, tensions have also flared in the occupied West Bank. On Thursday evening, a Palestinian man carried out a stabbing and shooting attack in the Israeli settlement of Gush Etzion, killing one Israeli before being shot dead by Israeli forces, according to the military.
Read More: Gaza Ceasefire Talks Advance, No Deal Yet
In response, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the site and vowed to intensify counterterror operations across the West Bank.
“We will continue our operations wherever necessary to stop such threats,” Zamir said.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
