US President Donald Trump has said he believed that “great progress” was being made to bring an end Israel’s war in Gaza, reports Al Jazeera.
“I think great progress is being made on Gaza, I think because of this attack that we made [on Iran],” said Trump, suggesting the US strikes on Iran could have a positive impact.
When asked if he believed that the attacks on the Iranian nuclear sites will lead to the release of the Israeli captives held in Gaza, he said he believes it has “helped a little bit,” adding that “even before this, we were very close to making a deal on Gaza.”
Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli fire killed at least 20 people on Wednesday, including six who were waiting to collect food aid in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
The latest in a string of deadly incidents near aid distribution sites came after the United Nations had condemned the "weaponisation of food" in the Gaza Strip, where a US- and Israeli-backed foundation has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that six people were killed and 30 others wounded "following Israeli fire targeting thousands of civilians waiting for aid" in an area of central Gaza where Palestinians have gathered each night in the hope of collecting food rations.
Bassal said the crowd was hit by Israeli "bullets and tank shells".
The war was triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 56,077 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry. The United Nations considers its figures reliable.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
