20 Palestinians, including children, killed in Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza

Palestinian media reported today that at least 20 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on areas in the Gaza Strip since the early hours of the morning.

Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal had previously reported that eight Palestinians, including five children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a tent and a house in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip at dawn.

Basal told Agence France-Presse: "Eight citizens, including five children and a woman, were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a tent housing dozens of displaced people and a house in Khan Yunis."

The Israeli bombardment destroyed the one-story house and several tents. Basal noted that "the occupation launched several airstrikes, coinciding with artillery shelling of the eastern areas of Khan Yunis and Rafah, coinciding with Eid prayers."

Israel resumed its airstrikes and ground war in the Gaza Strip in early March, after weeks of relative calm.

Hamas announced yesterday that it had agreed to a new truce proposal in the Gaza Strip, which it had received from mediators.

Khalil al-Hayya, the movement's leader in Gaza, said in a televised speech broadcast on Al-Aqsa TV: "Two days ago, we received a proposal from our mediator brothers. We dealt with it positively and agreed to it. We hope that the occupation will not obstruct it and thwart the mediators' efforts." He emphasized that "the weapons of the resistance are a red line, and they are linked to the existence of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. If the occupation ends, they will remain the weapon of the people and the state, protecting their capabilities and rights."

For his part, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the latter had received a proposal from the mediators.

T/S

ANHA