Optimism over Gaza truce despite fierce fighting raging in Al-Shujaiya

The Israeli military continued its assaults across the Gaza Strip, particularly in the neighbourhood of Al-Shujaiya, but optimism has arisen over a possible ceasefire deal to end the nine-month assault.

In northern Gaza, two Israeli soldiers were killed in battle on Thursday, including a commander, bringing the total number of Israeli troops killed in the ground offensive to 324.

The army claimed it had struck dozens of Hamas targets in the eastern Gaza City neighbourhood of Al-Shujaiya, where military operations and fighting with Palestinian factions have raged for days.

On Friday, an Israeli quadcopter reportedly opened fire on residents in Al-Shujaiya.

In the southern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military continued to pound the city of Rafah.

The death toll of Israel’s nine-month offensive has exceeded 38,000 people, mostly civilians, the territory’s health ministry said Wednesday.

Amid new optimism over a possible breakthrough in ceasefire talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a meeting of his security cabinet for late Thursday to discuss new Hamas proposals sent through Qatari and Egyptian mediators, reports said.

US President Joe Biden welcomed the decision to have Israeli negotiators "engage" with mediators in a bid "to close out the deal".

Five killed in the West Bank

On Friday, Israeli forces stormed the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin, leading to clashes with Palestinian fighters.

The Palestinian health ministry in the occupied territory said five people were killed in the raid, including a 54-year-old man.

The five were killed in an Israeli bombing of Al-Awda Square, between Jenin and the refugee camp in the same city.

At least 566 Palestinians have been killed in violence carried out by Israeli forces and extremist settlers in the West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem since the start of the Gaza war.

More than 9,500 other Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank, local authorities say.