Hamas says it regards President Biden’s ceasefire proposal “positively”, raising hopes of a halt to Israel’s eight-month war that has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians – mostly children and women.
Three Hamas battalions mounted “a sustained defence of Jabalia” in the face of a major three-week Israeli army operation in what is described as some of the “most intense” fighting of the war, war monitors report.
Daily life has become “apocalyptic” in parts of southern Gaza since Israel moved into the city of Rafah, the UN’s food agency says.
US President Biden says new Israeli proposal for a Gaza truce presented to Hamas is “a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages”, adding that “it’s time to end this war”.
At least 36,284 Palestinians have been killed and 82,057 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s attacks is at least 1,139 with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera
