At Least 20 Killed in Gaza Building Strike, Says Civil Defence

A reported Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City’s Shujaiya area on Wednesday has. resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal reported that the strike also left over 40 people injured, with rescue efforts underway to locate more individuals within the rubble. The Israeli military stated they are currently reviewing the incident.

This strike occurred amidst a renewed period of intense Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip, which began on March 18th following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. Attempts to reinstate the truce have thus far been unsuccessful.

The health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory reported on Wednesday that the renewed Israeli offensive has killed at least 1,482 Palestinians, bringing the total Palestinian death toll since the start of the conflict to 50,846.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that new negotiations were in progress aimed at securing the release of more hostages held in Gaza. Of the 251 individuals taken hostage during Hamas’s attack, 58 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military stating that 34 of them are deceased.