Early on Thursday morning, an Israeli strike on a residential structure in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya resulted in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa.
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden previously encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to come to a truce in Gaza and ensure the release of hostages.
This call was made in response to reports that Israeli airstrikes had killed at least 50 Palestinians in less than a day, underscoring the terrible toll that the current conflict is having on civilian casualties.
During the conversation, Vice President Kamala Harris and Biden emphasized how crucial it is to conclude the truce and hostage agreement.
According to the White House statement, Biden also spoke about the approaching Cairo discussions, which are intended to remove any last obstacles standing in the way of peace. To try to close the distance between Israel and Hamas, negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar are scheduled to meet in Cairo.
Both parties are steadfast in their demands notwithstanding these attempts.
Netanyahu’s office reiterated Israel’s determination to meet its war objectives, including ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israeli security. Central to Israel’s demands is retaining military control over the Philadelphi Corridor, the border area between Gaza and Egypt, a key point of contention in the negotiations. Netanyahu dismissed reports from Israeli television that claimed Israel had agreed to relinquish control over the corridor, with his office issuing a statement to correct the narrative.
