Israeli strikes kill at least 24 in Gaza

Israel’s military on Saturday launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that killed at least 24 people and wounded 54, including children, health officials there say, in the latest test of the six-week-old ceasefire.

- By Waraa SHURAFA

The Israeli strikes, which Israel said were in response to gunfire at its troops and which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said killed five senior Hamas members, came as international momentum was building over Gaza, with the United Nations Security Council on Monday approving the U.S. blueprint to secure and govern the territory. It authorizes an international stabilization force to provide security, approves a transitional authority to be overseen by President Trump and envisions a possible future path to an independent Palestinian state.

Israel has previously carried out similar waves of strikes after reported attacks on its forces. At least 33 Palestinians were killed over a 12-hour period Wednesday and Thursday, mostly women and children, health officials said.

One of Saturday's strikes targeted a vehicle, killing 11 and wounding more than 20 Palestinians in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood, said Rami Mhanna, managing director of Shifa Hospital, where the casualties were taken. Most of the wounded were children, director Mohamed Abu Selmiya said.

Associated Press video showed children and others inspecting the blackened vehicle, whose top was blown off.