Gaza: Hamas says it has brokered a deal for Gaza’s groups to stop firing on Israel, after another day of violent exchanges. Hamas, which governs Gaza, said the truce was designed to stop an escalation of Israeli “aggression”. The militant wing of Hamas earlier hit an Israeli bus with an anti-tank shell, injuring two people.
Israeli forces replied with air strikes and tank fire, killing four and wounding 30, Palestinian doctors say.
The bus attack was condemned by the US, which said it was particularly concerned by reports that the Gaza militants had used an advanced anti-tank weapon to target civilians.
The bus had been dropping off schoolchildren near the Nahal Oz kibbutz, and was carrying only one passenger when it was hit, Israeli medical sources said.
A 16-year-old boy suffered a serious head wound and was taken to hospital for surgery.
After the attack, witnesses said more rockets and mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip.
An Israeli plane bombed a compound in northern Gaza belonging to Hamas. Targets in Gaza City and Rafah were also hit.
An official in Gaza said one of those killed was a 50-year-old civilian who was sitting outside his home when he was struck by tank fire.
Three others were militants killed near the southern town of Rafah. A fifth man, a policeman, was also killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would take any action necessary to deter attacks from Gaza.
“We hope this situation will be contained but we will not shy away from taking all the necessary action, offensive and defensive, to protect our country and to protect our citizens,” said Netanyahu during a visit to Prague.
Later, the Hamas Interior Ministry announced it had been in talks to broker a truce, saying: “We received a positive response from most of the factions.”
The ministry did not announce which groups had refused the truce.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription