Gaza Strike Kills 15 as Trump Awaits Hamas Ceasefire Decision

At least 15 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike early Friday on a tent encampment near Khan Younis in southern Gaza, according to local health officials. The victims were reportedly displaced civilians, many of whom had been sheltering in the area due to ongoing conflict.

The strike comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump awaits a response from Hamas to what he has described as a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire. Trump announced earlier this week that Israel had agreed to the terms of the deal, which would include a temporary halt to hostilities and negotiations toward a more permanent resolution.

Hamas has stated it is reviewing the proposal but has not yet indicated whether it will accept or reject the terms. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained publicly silent on the ceasefire plan, though members of his coalition are reportedly divided on the issue.

The airstrike has drawn renewed attention to the humanitarian toll of the nearly two-year-long war, which has displaced millions and left over 57,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry. In Tel Aviv, families of hostages held in Gaza marked U.S. Independence Day with a symbolic Shabbat dinner protest, urging Trump to secure a deal that would bring their loved ones home.

As the region braces for Hamas’s decision, the latest violence underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire talks and the urgent need for a resolution that prioritizes civilian lives.