Israel airstrike in Gaza City kills 30 as cabinet meets to approve ceasefire deal

Israel carried out a major airstrike on Thursday night in the Sabra area of Gaza City, bringing down a multi-storey building and trapping around 40 people under the debris. 

The Israeli military confirmed that the strike targeted Hamas militants. According to Gaza’s Civil Defense Agency, four bodies have been recovered so far, while dozens remain trapped. Al-Shifa Hospital reported that since Wednesday evening, 30 Palestinians have been killed.

Confirming the strike, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it targeted a cell of Hamas operatives whose members were “operating close to forces and posed an immediate threat to IDF troops operating in the area.”

This comes after the impending ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, announced late Wednesday night by US President Donald Trump. 

In a statement released by Palestine’s Mission to the United Nations on X, Abbas praised Trump and all mediators for their efforts in reaching the agreement and expressed Palestine's readiness to work with relevant mediators and international partners to ensure its success, in order to achieve stability and a lasting and just peace in accordance with international law.

The statement said, “President Mahmoud Abbas today welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of an agreement to cease the war on the Gaza Strip, withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces, allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and facilitate a prisoner exchange. President Abbas expressed hope that these efforts would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution, as announced by President Trump, leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

(With inputs from syndicated feed)