DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Early on Friday, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 17 people, including children, according to hospital workers. This escalation of violence occurred as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem. Among those killed were 10 individuals in the Jabaliya refugee camp, with eight victims coming from the same household, as reported by the Indonesian Hospital. In the southern city of Khan Younis, seven fatalities were confirmed, including a pregnant woman, according to Nasser Hospital.
The airstrikes occurred a day after more than two dozen deaths were reported in Gaza. Israel's military operations have intensified, aimed at pressuring Hamas to return hostages and disarm. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made his debut at the Western Wall, the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalem’s Old City. Huckabee inserted a prayer note, which he claimed was handwritten by U.S. President Donald Trump. He stated, “Those are his initials, D.T.,” while displaying the note to the media.
In his inaugural act as ambassador, Huckabee relayed that Trump instructed him to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Huckabee emphasized the urgency of bringing home the remaining hostages held by Hamas. While he has been a vocal advocate for Israel's right to annex the West Bank, he acknowledged that implementing such policies would not be his prerogative. During Trump's first term, he recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv, a decision met with Palestinian opposition as they seek the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as their future capital.
Huckabee's arrival coincides with a critical juncture in the ongoing 18-month war, with international mediators, including the U.S., attempting to stabilize a broken ceasefire. Israel demands that Hamas release a greater number of hostages as a precursor to any ceasefire negotiations, insisting on disarmament and a continued military presence in parts of Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating team, announced on Thursday that the group had rejected Israel's latest demands and maintained that it would only return hostages in exchange for the release of additional Palestinian prisoners, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a lasting truce based on the now-defunct ceasefire agreement from January.
Currently, Hamas holds 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. The conflict initially erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, mainly among civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. While most hostages have since been released via ceasefire agreements or other negotiations, the humanitarian impact of the war has been catastrophic. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel's military operation has resulted in more than 51,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly among women and children. The ongoing conflict has devastated large portions of Gaza and severely harmed its food production capabilities.
As a consequence of the hostilities, around 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced, with hundreds of thousands residing in makeshift tent camps and partially destroyed buildings. Aid organizations have raised alarms regarding Israel's blockade of Gaza, which has restricted essential goods and food supplies for over six weeks. The United Nations reported that thousands of children are malnourished, and many residents are inadequately fed, typically consuming only one meal per day due to dwindling supplies. Israel's Defense Minister described the blockade as a central pressure tactic against Hamas, which the Israeli government accuses of diverting humanitarian aid to sustain its rule, a claim that aid workers contest, asserting that the U.N. closely monitors aid distribution. Rights organizations have labeled the blockade a “starvation tactic.”
— Khaled reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.
