At least 14 people were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip this morning, including 10 people killed when Israeli fighter jets bombed a residential building in Gaza City, amid reports that ceasefire talks are nearing an agreement.
The target of the attack in Gaza City was the Tabatibi family home in the Daraj neighbourhood. Footage shows fires blazing in the house after the attack and rescuers searching for survivors among the rubble.
Local media reported that the family fled the house, located in eastern Gaza City.
Al Jazeera’s Tarek Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, said the house was attacked without any prior warning. He also added:
“Civil defence workers confirmed that the vast majority of bodies were blown to pieces.”
This morning, Al Jazeera correspondents reported fighting in the Al Janina neighbourhood of Rafah, as well as Israeli helicopters firing east of the city in southern Gaza.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called for a ceasefire, warning of “appalling” conditions in one of the only functioning hospitals in northern Gaza.
“The conditions in the hospital are simply appalling,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, a town under intense attack by the Israeli military. He added:
“We call for the protection of health care and an end to this hell! Ceasefire!”
Meanwhile, Greece’s former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis continues to attract public attention to conflict in Gaza by making a repost on X:
“It’s amazing to see how Western media have suddenly rediscovered that torture is evil, after ignoring systematic torture, rape and murder in Israeli prisons for the past year.”
“Unprecedented progress” in ceasefire talks
Israel and Hamas have made “unprecedented progress” in talks, according to a senior Palestinian organisation source.
Tel Aviv and Hamas representatives are reportedly reaching an agreement on the cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, as well as the release of Israeli hostages who were taken by the Palestinian organisation’s military in October 2023.
The parties have not yet reached a consensus on the hostages. The issue of the number of Israelis to be released is still open. There is also no agreement on the specific names of those released. Reportedly, the last word in the discussion remains with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Earlier, the media reported that Hamas is ready for a deal under which Israeli troops will temporarily remain in the Gaza Strip.
