Israeli troops press on in Gaza despite looming ceasefire deal

Israeli troops have pressed on with their Gaza offensive, killing at least 21 Palestinians even as a deadline for Hamas to accept a US-ceasefire ultimatum.

The death toll since dawn on Wednesday included people killed and injured in a double-tap strike on a school where war refugees were taking shelter. Al-Falah school in Gaza City’s eastern Zeitoun neighbourhood was hit by missiles twice, minutes apart, according to officials at Al-Ahli Hospital.

Among the casualties were first responders. Five Palestinians were killed later on Wednesday morning, when a strike hit people gathered around a drinking water tank on the western side of Gaza City.

Also in Gaza City, the Shifa Hospital said it received the body of a man killed in a strike on his apartment west of the city. Israeli hit the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing a husband and wife and another man was killed in a separate strike in the Bureij refugee camp.

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The Israeli army said sirens sounded in communities near the Gaza strip on Wednesday afternoon, after "two projectiles" crossed from there into Israel. And a tense stand-off was taking place as a 50 boat activist flotilla, carrying Greta Thunberg and others, tried to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.

It had in the afternoon been approached by a warship as the mercy fleet sailed closer to the besieged Palestinian territory. It comes as Hamas considers a 20 point peace ultimatum that favours Israel and would free remaining hostages, whilst ridding the Strip of Hamas.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty said the proposal needs more negotiations on certain elements, echoing remarks made by Qatar a day earlier. Hamas has said it would study the plan, both within the group and with other Palestinian factions, before responding.

The comments by Qatar and Egypt, two key mediators, appeared to reflect Arab countries' discontent over the text of the 20-point plan. It demands Hamas release hostages, leave power in Gaza and disarm in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners and an end to fighting.

It also pledges a flow of humanitarian aid and promises reconstruction in Gaza, placing it and its more than two million Palestinians under international governance.

And a 50 boat boat packed with 500 activist and Gaza aid has tried to break through an Israeli blockade stopping supplies getting to the enclave. At least 66,005 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas horror which killed 1,200 in Israel in 2023 triggered the war.

The mercy fleet - which is joined by Greta Thunberg- was approached on Wednesday afternoon by an Israeli ship and its lead vessel Alma was "aggressively circled" several minutes according to organisers. Israeli forces reportedly intercepted six large vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea last night.

Israeli sources said arrests have been made on the vessels Sirius, Alma, Dir Yassine, Huga, Adara, and Spectre. Several individuals have been arrested, including US, French, Spanish, Dutch and one U.K. national. The seized Brit is thought to be journalist Kieran Andrieu, who represents left wing outlet Novara Media.

He has written stories about joining the flotilla to report an attempt to take baby food to Gaza. Communications for the flotilla vessels have been cut off, and the Israeli Navy's interceptions will reportedly continue for many hours into Thursday.

At least 66,005 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the Hamas horror which killed 1,200 in Israel in 2023 triggered the war.