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Netanyahu offers Hamas leaders Gaza exit but demands group disarm

Israeli leader says his country is working towards a plan proposed by US President Donald Trump to displace Gazans to other countries

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Fighters of the Islamic Jihad and Ezz al-Din Al-Qassam brigades, the military wing of Hamas, during the handover of three Israeli hostages in February. File photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday offered to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza but demanded the group abandon its arms, as his country kept up its bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

Gaza’s civil defence agency said an Israeli air strike on a house and tent sheltering displaced Palestinians killed at least eight people, including five children.

The strike hit Khan Younis on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Samah Dahliz, 38, whose young relative was among the dead, said: “What kind of Eid is this that we are going through?”

Palestinian Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayer marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Photo: Reuters
Palestinian Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayer marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Photo: Reuters

“He’s a child, his parents had bought him new clothes for Eid to make him happy,” she said.

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