Israeli strike in West Bank's Tulkarm camp kills three

AFP

Three Palestinians have been killed by an Israeli strike on a house in the West Bank's Tulkarm refugee camp, the Palestinian health ministry said in a statement.

The killings are the latest deaths in Gaza and come just hours after at least 11 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential building in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, which happened in the early hours of Thursday, official Palestinian news agency Wafa said.

On Wednesday US President Joe Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the urgency of sealing a deal for a truce in Gaza and the release of hostages, the White House said, but Israel and Hamas stuck firmly to their demands.

A telephone call between the leaders, in which Vice President Kamala Harris also took part, came after Palestinian health officials reported at least 50 Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes over a 24-hour period.

Biden stressed to Netanyahu "the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure and discussed upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles," a White House statement said.

US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari negotiators, who are expected to meet in Cairo this weekend, have for months struggled to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas.

But Israel and Hamas on Wednesday held to their demands.

 

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