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Hospitals say that Israeli strikes overnight killed at least 57 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Hamas was still considering its response on Thursday to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for ending the nearly two-year war. The plan requires Hamas to return all 48 hostages — about 20 of them thought by Israel to be alive — to give up power and disarm in return for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and an end to fighting. Palestinians long for the war to end but many believe the plan favors Israel, and a Hamas official has said some elements were unacceptable, without elaborating.

Local hospitals report at least 31 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. This comes amid discussions about U.S. President Donald Trump's proposed peace plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year war in Gaza. Hamas plans to review the proposal, which includes disarmament and international control over Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the plan, but many Palestinians are skeptical, viewing it as favoring Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continued Tuesday, with local hospitals reporting casualties. The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, with Gaza's Health Ministry reporting over 66,000 deaths since the war began.

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.

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.

Dozens of international charities and humanitarian groups are calling for disbanding a controversial Israeli- and U.S.-backed system to distribute aid in Gaza. That's because of recurring chaos and violence against Palestinians seeking food at sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The call by groups including Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty International was made Tuesday as at least 13 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid in southern and central Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 people, and Israel's defense minister warned that his country would respond forcefully to the firing of a missile from Yemen.

Israeli strikes have killed more than a dozen people in the Gaza Strip as Israel sends more ground troops into the Palestinian territory to ramp up its offensive against Hamas. Staff at the hospital in Khan Younis said at least 17 people were killed when an airstrike hit a three-story building early Friday. Some of the victims were from the same family. People were still searching through the rubble looking for survivors hours later. The attack follows days of Israeli strikes that have killed at least 100 people. Israel has intensified its operations in a bid to pressure Hamas to release its hostages. Israel said Friday it had begun a ground activity in northern Gaza to expand its security zone.