Israeli airstrikes pounded parts of Gaza on Thursday, hours after a ceasefire framework was announced between Hamas and Israel, as per media reports. Media reports indicate that several explosions occurred, particularly in northern Gaza, including Gaza City, as intense airstrikes followed the truce announcement late Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, reports emerged that terrorists tried to target Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) positions in Gaza on Wednesday. The IDF stated that several attackers were neutralized and that no Israeli soldiers were injured.
In a post on X, the IDF said, “Several Terrorists Attempted to attack an IDF Position in the Gaza City Area. IDF troops, in cooperation with the IAF, struck and eliminated several of the terrorists. Searches for additional terrorists are currently underway. There were no injuries among IDF troops in this incident.”
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to implement the first phase of his proposed plan to end the ongoing war in Gaza. “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Trump added, “ This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly.”
The first stage of Trump’s 20-point peace framework was achieved after indirect negotiations held in Egypt. If successfully carried out, the agreement could represent the closest step yet toward ending a conflict that has expanded into a wider regional crisis.
Since the Israel-Gaza war erupted in October 2023, it has resulted in the deaths of more than 67,000 people and left around 169,841 people injured. Thousands remain trapped beneath the debris of destroyed buildings. In Israel, the October 7 attacks killed 1,139 people and led to about 200 hostages being taken.
According to the United Nations, the prolonged conflict has caused devastating injuries to nearly 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza over the past two years, including thousands of children. Reports from Al Jazeera indicate that more than 5,000 amputations have occurred as a result of the violence.
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