Death toll of Israeli strikes on UN operated school reaches 18

Israel's military conducted an airstrike on the UN-operated al-Jaouni school in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people.

Witnesses reported that women and children were among the casualties. Six of the victims were staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), including the shelter's manager.

This incident marks the highest death toll for UNRWA staff in a single attack during the ongoing 11-month war.

Simultaneously, Hamas informed mediators of its readiness to implement a US-proposed, UN-backed truce agreement without imposing any new conditions.

Previously, Israeli forces killed at least six Palestinians in the West Bank on Wednesday in a series of operations targeting militant groups.

The military reported that five men were killed in Tubas during an airstrike, which targeted individuals allegedly armed with explosives, along with the destruction of weapons production facilities.

The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that five bodies were recovered from the site.

In a separate incident in Tulkarm, Israeli forces killed another Palestinian, reportedly an armed militant.

The Israeli military has been conducting extended operations in the northern West Bank, particularly in cities like Tubas, Jenin, and Tulkarm, where heavy clashes have been reported between Israeli forces and armed factions including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah.

Amid ongoing violence in the West Bank since the war in Gaza began in October, over 680 Palestinians have been killed, including both fighters and civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The Israeli military has also reported casualties, with around 40 Israeli soldiers and civilians killed in clashes or attacks.

Separately, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a Lebanese network accused of smuggling oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to generate revenue for Hezbollah.

The sanctions targeted individuals, companies, and vessels linked to Hezbollah’s financing operations.

According to US officials, these smuggling activities were used to support Hezbollah's operations, including launching rockets into Israel.

In a related development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Iraq for the first time, emphasizing stronger ties between the two countries amidst growing regional tensions.

Pezeshkian's trip is focused on regional security and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The conflict in Gaza has so far claimed the lives of at least 41,084 people, with 95,029 injured.

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