Blinken to renew push for Gaza ceasefire as Israel air strikes kill 6 children

Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza: Latest Developments and Impact

CAIRO/GAZA — At least 21 people, including six children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, according to Palestinian health authorities, ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken aimed at advancing ceasefire talks.

The children and their mother were among those killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Deir Al-Balah, a central Gaza town, health officials reported. The Israeli military has yet to comment on the incident.

The military also claimed responsibility for destroying rocket launchers used to target Israel from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, a site of intense fighting in recent weeks. They stated that they killed 20 Palestinian militants.

Diplomatic efforts to cease the Israel-Hamas conflict and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza have intensified in recent days. Talks mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar are scheduled to continue this week in Cairo, following a two-day meeting in Doha last week.

Blinken, making his tenth trip to the region since the war began last October, arrived in Israel on Sunday. The U.S. had recently presented bridging proposals believed to help bridge gaps between the warring parties.

Increased urgency surrounds reaching a ceasefire agreement amidst fears of regional escalation. Iran has threatened retaliation against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.

Relatives gathered at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah around the bodies of the mother and her six children, who were wrapped in white shrouds bearing their names. The youngest child was 18 months old, according to their grandfather, Mohammed Khattab.

Israel denies targeting civilians as it pursues Hamas militants, blaming the group for using civilian facilities such as schools and hospitals. Hamas disputes this claim.

With ten months of war, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face constant displacement. Tamer Al-Burai, who resides in Deir Al-Balah with multiple family members, expressed frustration with the ongoing displacement, noting that tanks were only 1.5 kilometers away.

Evacuation orders issued by the military on Friday affected areas north of Khan Younis and east of Deir Al-Balah, displacing hundreds of thousands of people previously sheltering in these regions. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that these orders reduced the size of the "humanitarian area" deemed safe by Israeli forces to approximately 11% of Gaza’s total area.

Deir Al-Balah municipality estimates the current population at one million, stating that the evacuation orders have led to overcrowding in smaller spaces. Additionally, water shortages loom as several water wells and tankers providing 60% of supplies were located in evacuated areas.

In Israel, Blinken was expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking officials. Netanyahu’s office described the talks as “complex,” emphasizing that Israel remains committed to its security principles outlined in the May 27 proposal.

Hamas criticized the optimistic U.S. comments, labeling them “deceptive” and accusing Netanyahu of setting new conditions to disrupt negotiations. Key disagreements persist over issues such as Israeli troop presence in Gaza post-conflict and checks on individuals entering northern Gaza from the south.

Hamas seeks a ceasefire agreement to end the war, whereas Israel has shown reluctance to agree to anything beyond a temporary cessation of hostilities. The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the capture of approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.

Israel's military response has reportedly killed over 40,000 Palestinians, most of whom were civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities. Much of Gaza has been reduced to ruins, while Israel claims to have killed 17,000 Hamas combatants.