Israeli attacks kill 20 in Gaza as Trump concludes his visit

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-05-16 14:26:18 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-23 20:37:01

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 10

---

Rockets fired from Gaza targeted Israeli cities throughout the day, and Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 people before a tense ceasefire took hold Saturday night.

The violence came as US President Donald Trump wrapped up his two-day visit to Israel andPalestine, fueling tensions that had been building over months of lethal Israeli operations against Palestinian protesters in Gaza, and just a day after Trump made a surprise visit to the Palestinian headquarters in Bethlehem.

The fighting began when Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets toward southern Israel on Saturday morning. According to the Israeli Defense Forces, the Iron Dome intercepted "some" of the rockets, while others hit "open areas", AP reported. Israeli media claimed that several rockets landed in Tel Aviv, setting off alarms and sending residents to bomb shelters. By evening, the Israeli army said its troops were ordered to "prepare for a ground offensive".

In response to the rocket fire, Israel carried out airstrikes in Gaza City targeting "terror infrastructure", according to a statement from the Israeli army. At least 20 people were killed and 70 others wounded, authorities said. Palestinian officials reported that many of the casualties were civilians, including women and children.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 130 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, while Israeli media reported that four people were injured by rocket fragments in Tel Aviv.

The bombings came just hours after Trump wrapped up his two-day visit to Israel and Palestine, which was heavy on symbolism but light on policy. In addition, the surprising announcement that Israel and Palestine were restarting peace talks sparked skepticism, given the deep fissures between the two sides and the bleak outlook for any conclusive negotiations.

In a tweet, Trump blamed Gaza for the renewed violence and said the United States would continue to support Israel's "right to self-defense".

"Gaza has been launching rockets at Israel for years, causing terrible danger to its citizens," he said. "Israel has the right to defend itself against this violence, and to protect the safety of its citizens."

Saturday's tense ceasefire came into effect just before midnight, according to media reports. The situation remains fragile, with fears that more attacks could erupt at any time.

As Trump concluded his visit, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the parties would "do everything that is necessary to give a chance for peace". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would continue to work with the US president and his team to achieve "the ultimate deal".

Whether the latest developments will be a setback to those aspirations remains to be seen.

Go!