Negotiations underway for 3-day cease-fire in Gaza

Palestinians inspect the remains of a destroyed mosque in Khan Younis. Pics/AP

Negotiations are underway to reach a three-day humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza in exchange for the release of about a dozen hostages held by Hamas. That's according to two officials from Egypt, one from the United Nations and a Western diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic efforts. The deal would enable more aid, including limited amounts of fuel, to enter the besieged territory to alleviate worsening conditions for the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped there. It is being brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, according to the officials and the diplomat.

Around 50,000 people fled the fighting on Wednesday

In Paris, officials from Western and Arab nations, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations are gathering Thursday for a conference on how to provide aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. French President Emmanuel Macron called for a "humanitarian pause" in Israel's war with Hamas. The number of Palestinians killed in the war passed 10,500, including more than 4,300 children. In the occupied West Bank, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed.

Israel continues to bombard Gaza City

Damage caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Khan Younis

Israeli strikes pounded Gaza City overnight into Thursday as ground forces battled Hamas militants in dense urban neighbourhoods from which tens of thousands have fled in recent days. Israeli troops were around 3 km from Shifa Hospital in the heart of downtown. Israel has been vague on troop movements, but officials say the largest city is the focus of their campaign.

US launches airstrikes on militia in Syria

The US launched an airstrike Wednesday on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militias, in retaliation to an increasing number of attacks over the past several weeks on bases housing US troops, the Pentagon said. Two US F-15 fighter jets carried out the strike on a weapons storage facility linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. This is the second time in less than two weeks that the US has bombed facilities used by the militant groups, many operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.

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