- Israel launched more airstrikes on Rafah despite allies’ warnings this could cause mass casualties.
- Medics in the besieged Palestinian enclave reported five Israeli airstrikes on Rafah on Thursday that hit at least three houses, killing at least six people including a local journalist.
- Israeli forces also resumed bombarding northern and central areas of the enclave, as well as east of Khan Younis in the south.
- Hamas said that Israel would fail to meet its stated goal of defeating the Palestinian group by invading Rafah.
- “Even if (Israel) enters and invades Rafah, it will not achieve what it wants,” senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told the news agency AFP.
- Hamad said Israel had “spent nearly seven months in Gaza and invaded all areas and destroyed a lot, but so far has not been able to achieve anything of its main goals, whether eliminating Hamas or returning the captives”.
- Egypt has reportedly asked for a follow-up meeting with Israel in renewed efforts to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.
- A meeting between Egyptian and Israeli officials was expected to take place on Friday in Cairo, the sources said, with further meetings with the Hamas contingent on the result.
- The Gaza health authorities said on Thursday that Israel has killed at least 34,305 Palestinians.
- The United States and 17 other countries have now issued an appeal for Hamas to release all of its hostages as a pathway to end the crisis in Gaza.
