Israeli ground troops for the first time have pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based. An Israeli military official on Monday confirmed the incursion that appears to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war. That has led to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages' families said it was "shocked and alarmed" by the incursion.

Top church leaders have visited Gaza after its only Catholic church was struck by an Israeli shell the day before. The attack Thursday killed three people and wounded 10, including a priest who had developed a close friendship with the late Pope Francis. The strike drew condemnation from the pope and U.S. President Donald Trump, and prompted a statement of regret from Israel, which said it was a mistake. Since ending a ceasefire in March, Israel has regularly launched far deadlier strikes across Gaza against what it says are Hamas militants, frequently killing women and children. Strikes killed 18 people overnight, health officials said Friday.

An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had regularly spoken to the priest about the situation in the war-ravaged territory. The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza on Thursday also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas war. Israel expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack.

The U.N. reports that child malnutrition in Gaza has doubled since Israel restricted food entry in March. By June, over 10% of children under age five screened by UNRWA were acutely malnourished, compared to 5.5% in March. UNICEF also documented a sharp rise in cases. Israel eased the blockade slightly in May, but aid remains insufficient. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 90 Palestinians in 24 hours, including women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Strikes on homes and shelters have caused significant casualties. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have stalled, with no breakthrough after recent U.S.-Israel talks.

Europe and Israel have reached a new deal to allow more food and fuel into Gaza. The European Union's foreign policy chief said on Thursday that the plan could result in "more crossings open, aid and food trucks entering Gaza, repair of vital infrastructure and protection of aid workers." The announcement came as an Israeli airstrike killed 10 children and five adults outside a medical clinic to receive critical nutritional supplements and other care. The Israeli military says it was targeting a militant when it struck near the clinic. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel continues to pursue a deal for a 60-day pause in the fighting and the release of half of the hostages still held in Gaza.