At least 64 people were killed in various parts of the Gaza Strip on March 30 as a result of Israeli airstrikes, Qatari television channel Al Jazeera reported.
According to media sources, the cities of Jabaliya, Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Khan Yunis and surrounding villages were attacked. The Gaza Health Ministry has not yet commented on these data.
The Palestinian movement Hamas claims that children are among the dead.
On March 18, the Israeli army renewed military operations in the Gaza Strip, launching massive strikes on the enclave, thus violating the ceasefire established in January. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office explained this by Hamas's rejection of the proposals made during the negotiations by mediators and the US President's special envoy Stephen Witkoff, stating that the aim of the operation in the sector was to free all hostages. The radicals accused Israel and the US of renewing hostilities.
According to the latest official figures, 921 Palestinians have been killed and 2,054 injured in Gaza since March 18.
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it was "outraged" by the deaths of eight Red Crescent ambulance drivers killed by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
"My heart is broken. These dedicated ambulance drivers were helping the wounded. They were humanitarian workers. They wore emblems that were supposed to protect them. Their ambulances were clearly identified. They should have returned to their families, but they did not," said the Secretary General of the IFRC, Jagan Chapagein, in a statement.
Israel announced the construction of new roads in the West Bank, reported Agence France-Presse, quoted by BTA.
The decision was approved by the government at the proposal of Defense Minister Israel Katz. This will lead to the construction of a new road network in the Maale Adumim area. The project aims to improve traffic and strengthen the transport infrastructure between Jerusalem, Maale Adumim and the eastern part of the Binyamin region.
Maale Adumim is one of the largest Israeli settlements in the West Bank, with over 40,000 residents.
According to Palestinians and NGOs, the project will divide the West Bank in two.
According to Netanyahu, the Israeli authorities will continue to strengthen the security of Israeli citizens and develop Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The government said the new road will benefit all residents of the region and establish a strategic link between Jerusalem, Maale Adumim and the Jordan Valley. Netanyahu thus mentioned the three areas in which Israel is developing Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
Several far-right Israeli ministers have openly called for Israel to annex all or part of the West Bank, Agence France-Presse recalls.
Israel has appointed an official to facilitate the emigration of Palestinians from Gaza, the country's Defense Ministry announced today, quoted by the Israeli news agency TPS, quoted by BTA.
Retired Colonel Yaakov (Koby) Blitzstein, currently deputy director general of the Defense Ministry, has been appointed head of the newly created Directorate for the Voluntary Transition of Gazans.
"We are determined to realize US President Donald Trump's vision of allowing the voluntary departure of Gazans who wish to leave to various locations around the world. Our tests show that at least 40% of Gazans are interested in emigrating to other places," Defense Minister Israel Katz said.
Katz said Blitzstein would give "organizational momentum" to the project and intensify ongoing political discussions with target countries in cooperation with the US administration and the team led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The newly formed directorate will operate within the Defense Ministry and will be tasked with coordinating efforts to facilitate the voluntary departure of Gazans.
This includes ensuring safe passage for those wishing to move to third countries, establishing designated pedestrian crossings, and coordinating the logistics of crossings by land, sea, and air. The directorate will work closely with international organizations and government ministries.
On Thursday, the Rand Foundation, a US-based think tank, released a report saying the war between Israel and Hamas has displaced 90% of Gaza's 2.2 million people and damaged or destroyed 70% of the enclave's homes.
"Gaza's reconstruction will take decades, costing more than $50 billion. "Hundreds of thousands of Gazans will need temporary shelter for a decade or more while their homes are rebuilt," the report said.
In February, Asher Friedman told the Israel Press Service that voluntary relocation of Palestinians to third countries while the United States rebuilds the Strip could happen, but it would require the right circumstances.
"Gaza residents will not be able to leave en masse if Hamas militants prevent people from leaving," said Friedman, who is executive director of the Misgav Institute in Jerusalem. "A military campaign would first have to weaken Hamas." enough to prevent Palestinians from emigrating," he added.
He cited a survey by the Palestinian Center for Political and Sociological Studies, published on June 26, 2024, which found that 44% of Gazans between the ages of 18 and 29 would emigrate if given the opportunity.
A 2022 report by the Hamas-affiliated Council for Foreign Relations and seen by TPS said that 12% of the Strip's population had fled since 2007, when the terror group forcibly took control of Gaza.
At least 1,180 people were killed and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas attacks. on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Thirty-six of the remaining 59 hostages are believed to be dead.
Lebanese security forces said they had arrested suspects following recent rocket attacks on Israel, which prompted Israeli forces to launch deadly strikes on Lebanon, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
Lebanese security services said in a statement that an unspecified number of suspects had been detained in connection with the strikes on Israel. Authorities had begun questioning them to "determine (their) responsibility and take the necessary legal measures", the statement added.
Rockets were fired at Israel on March 22 and 28. No one claimed responsibility, and the Lebanese organization “Hamas“ denied involvement in the attacks.
The Iranian-backed Islamist movement was severely weakened after its open war against Israel in September and October last year, before a ceasefire agreement between the warring parties came into effect on November 27.
Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army regularly carries out strikes in eastern and southern Lebanon, AFP noted.