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Seven Family Members Killed in Gaza Airstrike as Blinken Pushes for Ceasefire in Israel
Seven members of the same family, including six children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza on Sunday, according to medical officials. The tragic incident occurred as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel to push for a ceasefire and a potential hostage deal amid the ongoing conflict.
The airstrike targeted a home in Deir al-Balah, resulting in the deaths of the children and their mother. The children’s father was injured in the attack, according to a spokesperson from Al-Aqsa Hospital. Muhammad Awad Khattab, the children’s grandfather, expressed his devastation, telling CNN, “They were taken by surprise when a missile hit them and completely destroyed their apartment.” He questioned the justification for the attack, asking, “What did they do to deserve this? What resistance did they have?”
This latest strike follows a similar incident just a day earlier, where an Israeli airstrike in the al-Zawayda area of Deir al-Balah killed at least 15 people from the same family, including nine children, according to Gaza Civil Defense.
In a statement on Sunday, the Israeli military confirmed ongoing operations in Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah, stating that they had struck “targets in the area from which the launches were fired” toward Nirim on Friday, and destroyed launchers in Khan Yunis.
The conflict in Gaza has seen Israel issue numerous evacuation orders, further restricting the humanitarian zone in the region. According to the United Nations, more than 80% of the Gaza Strip has been subjected to these orders since October, severely limiting the local population’s access to essential services and shelter.
Since the escalation of violence following the Hamas attacks on October 7, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 40,000 people and widespread destruction. The situation has been further exacerbated by the recent detection of the first case of polio in Gaza in 25 years.
Amid these developments, Secretary of State Blinken is engaged in urgent diplomatic efforts to finalize a ceasefire and hostage deal. A new ceasefire plan, drafted by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, was presented on Friday following intense negotiations in Doha. Blinken is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials on Monday to push for an agreement.
While U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, have expressed optimism about the prospects of a ceasefire, Hamas has dismissed the progress, with a senior official from the group telling the BBC that mediators were “selling illusions.”
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has indicated cautious optimism about reaching a deal, stating on Saturday that there is “hope that the heavy pressure” on Hamas from the U.S. and other mediators will lead to a breakthrough in negotiations.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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