In Pictures

Israeli air strikes hit Gaza despite Trump’s ‘stop bombing’ demand

Israeli air strikes and shelling destroy homes – in defiance of Trump’s ceasefire call.

Displaced Palestinians shelter on the side of a road — Displaced Palestinians seek refuge on a roadside in the central Gaza Strip. [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters]

Gaza’s civil defence agency has reported that Israel conducted dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City – despite United States President Donald Trump’s demand to halt bombardments following Hamas’s partial acceptance of a ceasefire deal.

“It was a very violent night, during which the (Israeli army) carried out dozens of air strikes and artillery shelling on Gaza City and other areas in the Strip, despite President Trump’s call to halt the bombing,” civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told AFP.

Basal, who works for a rescue force, said 20 homes were destroyed in the overnight attacks.

Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, reported receiving casualties from a strike on a home in the city’s Tuffah neighbourhood, including four deaths and multiple people injured.

At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, officials confirmed two children were killed and eight people were wounded when a drone struck a tent in a displacement camp.

The proposal for Gaza, unveiled by Trump this week with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s support, outlines a ceasefire, the release of captives within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas, and a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

On Friday, Hamas expressed willingness to release captives held in Gaza under the Trump plan but requested negotiations on some specifics and participation in decisions regarding the Palestinian territory’s future.

Smoke rises following explosions in Gaza City. — Smoke billows over Gaza City following explosions, after Hamas agreed to release captives and accept specific terms in a US-proposed plan to end the war [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters]