Israel targeted a Gaza school on Thursday that it said contained a Hamas compound, killing fighters involved in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked the eight-month war, but Gaza media said the strike killed at least 27 people seeking shelter.

Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of the Hamas-run government media office, rejected Israel’s claims that the U.N. school in Nuseirat, in central Gaza, had hidden a Hamas command post.

“The occupation uses lying to the public opinion through false fabricated stories to justify the brutal crime it conducted against dozens of displaced people,” Thawabta told Reuters.

Israel’s military said that before the strike by Israeli fighter jets, the military took steps to reduce the risk of harm to civilians.

The attack happened after Israel announced a new military campaign in central Gaza as it battles a group of fighters relying on hit-and-run insurgency tactics. Israel has said there will be no halt to fighting during ceasefire talks.

In an apparent blow to a truce proposal touted last week by U.S. President Joe Biden, the leader of Hamas on Wednesday said the group would demand a permanent end to the war in Gaza and Israeli withdrawal as part of a ceasefire plan.

The remarks by Ismail Haniyeh appeared to deliver the Palestinian militant group’s reply to the proposal that Biden unveiled last week. Washington had said it was waiting to hear an answer from Hamas to what Biden described as an Israeli initiative.

“The movement and factions of the resistance will deal seriously and positively with any agreement that is based on a comprehensive ending of the aggression and the complete withdrawal and prisoners swap,” Haniyeh said.

Asked whether Haniyeh’s remarks amounted to the group’s reply to Biden, a senior Hamas official replied to a text message from Reuters with a “thumbs up” emoji.

Since a brief week-long truce in November, all attempts to arrange a ceasefire have failed, with Hamas insisting on its demand for a permanent end to the conflict, while Israel says it is prepared to discuss only temporary pauses until the militant group is defeated.

Washington is still pressing hard to reach an agreement. CIA director William Burns met senior officials from mediators Qatar and Egypt on Wednesday in Doha to discuss the ceasefire proposal.

Biden has repeatedly declared that ceasefires were close over the past several months, only for no truce to materialise.

Last week’s announcement came with far greater fanfare from the White House, and at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under mounting domestic political pressure to chart a path to end the eight-month-old war and negotiate the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Hamas, which rules Gaza, precipitated the war by attacking Israeli territory on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Around half of the hostages were freed in the war’s only truce so far, which lasted a week in November.

Israel’s military assault on Gaza has killed more than 36,000 people, according to health officials in the territory, who say thousands more dead are feared buried under the rubble.

Meanwhile, a conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah is threatening to escalate, with the U.S. State Department warning against a full-blown war.

ISRAEL LUKEWARM

Although Biden described the ceasefire proposal as an Israeli offer, Israel’s government has been lukewarm in public. A top Netanyahu aide confirmed on Sunday that Israel had made the proposal even though it was “not a good deal”.

Far-right members of Netanyahu’s government have pledged to quit if he agrees to a peace deal that leaves Hamas in place, a move that could force a new election and end the political career of Israel’s longest-serving leader.

Centrist opponents who joined Netanyahu’s war cabinet in a show of unity at the outset of the conflict have also threatened to quit, saying his government has no plan.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said there would be no let-up in Israel’s offensive while negotiations over the ceasefire proposal were under way.

“Any negotiations with Hamas would be conducted only under fire,” Gallant said in remarks carried by Israeli media after he flew aboard a warplane to inspect the Gaza front.

The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they had fought gun battles with Israeli forces on Wednesday in areas throughout the enclave and fired anti-tank rockets and shells.

Two children were among the dead laid out on Wednesday in the city’s Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, one of the last hospitals functioning in Gaza. Mourners said the children had been killed along with their mother, who had been unable to leave when others in the neighbourhood did.

“This is not war, it is destruction that words are unable to express,” said their father Abu Mohammed Abu Saif.

The US State Department said Wednesday that countries should respect the travel ban imposed on Islamic Emirate leaders and should first seek permission before allowing IEA leaders entry into their countries.

This was in response to the minister of interior Sirajuddin Haqqani’s visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Matthew Miller, the State Department’s spokesperson, said countries need to get a travel exemption as specified in the 1988 resolution of the United Nations Sanctions Committee.

He said all United Nations member countries should follow this process.

Haqqani wrapped up a two-day trip to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday where he met with high-ranking officials including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Emir of the United Arab Emirates.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of Afghanistan’s caretaker government, said on Wednesday night the Haqqani’s trip had been a success and that he had reached a number of agreements with the Gulf nation.

Mujahid said in a post on X that the two sides discussed ways to expand relations to ensure mutual benefits and contribute to the stability of the region.

Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi is excited that the American public will witness cricket’s equivalent of the Super Bowl in New York on Sunday, June 9.

Shahid Afridi, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 ambassador, was thrilled at the prospect of an India-Pakistan showdown in New York during this edition of the T20 World Cup.

Comparing it to the famous Super Bowl, Afridi said that America’s cricket-loving crowd will witness the ‘greatest cricketing rivalry’ at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.

“For those Americans discovering the tournament, they should know that Pakistan’s game against India is like our Super Bowl,” Afridi wrote in his column for the ICC.

“I used to absolutely love playing India and I really believe it is the biggest rivalry in sport.

“When I played in those games, I got a lot of love and respect from the Indian fans and it means so much to both sides.

“Against India, it is about handling the pressure of the occasion. There is so much talent in both teams, they just need to put it together on the day.”

Afridi believed that the big expat community from South Asia will provide great love and support for the game, while also paving the way for its future growth.

“People are going to love the support in the States. There is a great expat community over there which absolutely loves cricket.

“And the Americans absolutely love their sport, whether it is American football, basketball or baseball. I really believe that cricket will hit the mainstream over there in the next few years, which is very exciting for up-and-coming cricketers.”

While he refused to pick any favourites from the India-Pakistan contest, he backed the Men in Green to overcome their recent indifferent form and bring their A-game out during the tournament.

“Pakistan have shown in recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cups that they are capable of challenging anyone,” Afridi said. “Even though their form has been inconsistent in 2024, I believe they have all the ingredients to put it all together in the West Indies and USA.

The former all-rounder referred to Pakistan’s successful runs in their most recent T20 World Cups as a significant marker of how the side lifted their game at the crunch moments. He particularly backed Pakistan’s pace attack to shine in the USA and West Indies.

“Over the last two ICC Men’s T20 World Cups, they have made one final and one semi-final and there is no question of the talent in the squad. The conditions in the Caribbean will definitely suit them.

“There is so much talent in the side, particularly when you look at the bowling attack which should thrive over there. The fast bowlers are as good as any team in the world and there is so much depth as well.”

Afridi believed the essence to Pakistan’s success would be settling down on a fixed squad, backing the regular players to do well.

“Class is much more important than recent form. We have seen time and again that the landscape of the game can change in the space of a few overs in T20 cricket.

“Part of the reason the results have been a bit up and down [for Pakistan] is that the selectors have been testing youngsters and giving them an opportunity to showcase their talent.

“It was important to settle on the best combination for the World Cup. Once they get there, I am expecting them to target the powerplay, keeping the strike rate high, before building up until the 14th over. From there, the finish will be the key.”

Pakistan open their Men’s T20 World Cup campaign against co-hosts USA in Dallas on 6 June, Thursday.

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