Women mourn at a Gaza hospital after Israeli airstrikes kill over 100, including children and medics.
EPICSTORIAN– As U.S. President Donald Trump proposed creating a “freedom zone” in the war-ravaged enclave, the Israeli military has said it will intensify its operations across Gaza on Thursday after reportedly killing over 100 people,
Gaza Civil Defense reported mass casualties in northern Jabalya and southern Khan Younis.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to a prolonged campaign aimed at eliminating Hamas and holding territory.
“There will be no in-and-out,” Netanyahu stated. “We’ll call up reserves to come, hold territory—we’re not going to enter and then exit the area, only to carry out raids afterward.”
Trump’s remarks and omissions of Israel during his regional tour signal widening gaps between Washington and Jerusalem.
Trump Pushes for US-controlled Freedom Zone
He also negotiated separately with regional groups, leading to Hamas releasing an Israeli-American hostage and the Houthis ceasing attacks on American ships.
Despite this, Trump said, “This is good for Israel,” and on Thursday proposed the U.S. “take” Gaza to establish a freedom zone.
“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good, make it a freedom zone,” Trump said in Qatar.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the Gaza death toll since October 2023 has exceeded 53,000. Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said over 100 people were killed Thursday, including a family of six in Jabalya and 13 others at a clinic.
In Khan Younis, 11 members of one family died in an airstrike. A teenage boy, Ahmad Al-Safi, said, “I thought I was a martyr.”
Gaza hospitals received 82 bodies and 152 injured in the past 24 hours, the health ministry reported. The IDF claims 20,000 Hamas fighters have been killed since October 7, 2023.
The IDF issued fresh evacuation orders for the Rimal neighborhood in central Gaza, citing Hamas activity. UN agencies warned of a worsening humanitarian disaster, stating famine is now a looming threat.
“The blockade, displacement, and bombardments continue to drive mass casualties, displacement and deprivation,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs posted on X.
Netanyahu remains defiant, stating, “We are destroying more and more homes. The only inevitable outcome will be the desire of Gazans to emigrate.” Trump had previously supported such a policy direction.
Ceasefire negotiations remain stalled. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani criticized Israel’s bombing amid talks. “Unfortunately, Israel’s reaction was to bomb the next day,” he said.
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Israel reportedly seeks to extend hostage exchanges without agreeing to a permanent ceasefire.
Hamas condemned the bombings as efforts to force terms through violence, warning that aid delays will hinder negotiation progress.
