At least 16 people, mostly women and children, were killed in an Israeli strike on a school converted into a shelter in the Gaza Strip, according to local medical authorities.
At least five children and four women were among those killed in the attack on an educational institution in the Jabaliya area, according to the Gaza Health Ministry's emergency services. Several people were also injured.
The Israeli military says it is only targeting militants and blames Hamas for the civilian deaths because its fighters operate in densely populated areas. There was no immediate comment on the latest strike.
The attack comes as US President Donald Trump travels to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates this week.
Hamas says the last living American hostage in the Gaza Strip will be freed as part of efforts to broker a truce, open crossings into the Israeli-blockaded territory and resume humanitarian aid to the affected region.
Two Hamas officials told The Associated Press that Edan Alexander's release is expected within the next 48 hours.
Trump's special representative, Steve Witkoff, confirmed in a message to The Associated Press that Hamas had agreed to release Mr. Alexander as a goodwill gesture to the US president.
The announcement of the first hostage release since Israel violated a ceasefire in March came shortly before Mr. Trump's visit to the Middle East this week. Mr. Alexander is an Israeli-American soldier who grew up in the United States.
Since breaking a truce two months ago, Israel has been stepping up its actions in the Gaza Strip, where a 10-week blockade of food, medicine and other supplies has worsened the humanitarian situation.
Hospital patients are among the most vulnerable groups as Palestinians across the Gaza Strip struggle to secure food supplies.
Israel's blockade of food and other supplies has entered its third month, leaving hospitals unable to meet the population's food needs.
Families are forced to bring whatever they can find to help their loved ones recover, and doctors are reporting that patients have been losing weight in recent weeks.
According to humanitarian organizations, there has been a rise in cases of malnutrition in the Gaza Strip.
Food distributions have ended and soup kitchens are rapidly closing. Markets are empty of almost everything except canned goods and a few vegetables, while prices continue to rise.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
