GAZA: Israeli forces pounded areas in northern and southern Gaza on Wednesday after Hamas said it had received and was studying a new proposal for a ceasefire and release of hostages held in the Palestinian enclave.
The proposal, presented to the Palestinian militant group by mediators after talks with Israel, appeared to be the most serious peace initiative for months in the Israel-Hamas war. Gaza health authorities said 26,900 Palestinians had been killed, including 150 over the past 24 hours.
Relations between Tehran and Washington are also tense after the deaths of three US soldiers in a drone strike in Jordan that US officials blame on Iran-backed militants. Washington has not yet outlined its response, but Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday they would respond to any US threat. President Joe Biden said he had already decided how to respond to the drone attack, but gave no further details.
A US Navy destroyer in the Red Sea shot down an anti-ship cruise missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. There was no report of damage or injury.