Israel deepens Gaza City offensive as Netanyahu heads to US

Israeli forces advanced deeper into Gaza City on Thursday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu headed to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly, with US President Donald Trump pursuing a deal to end the Gaza war.

Israeli strikes killed at least 19 persons across the Palestinian enclave on Thursday, local health authorities said. They included 11 persons from two families in Zawayda town in the central Gaza Strip, where planes hit a residential building.

Israel's military did not comment on the incident but said it had struck 170 targets across Gaza in the past 24 hours and attacked "terror infrastructure" used by militant groups to attack soldiers. Its forces were deep in Gaza City, it said.

US ENVOY HOPES FOR A BREAKTHROUGH

Tanks have entered Gaza City as part of an offensive that Israel says is intended to eliminate Hamas following its deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 but which has caused extensive destruction, a humanitarian catastrophe and widespread hunger.

Netanyahu says Gaza City is the Palestinian militant group's last bastion, but hundreds of thousands of civilians remain there, fearing there is nowhere safe for them to go.

US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Wednesday that Washington was confident of securing breakthrough on Gaza in coming days after Trump shared a 21-point Middle East peace plan with leaders of Muslim-majority countries in New York.

Trump also promised Arab leaders he would not allow Israel to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Politico reported.

Palestinians want the West Bank for an independent Palestinian state, with Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Netanyahu has declared there will never be a Palestinian state although Britain, France, Canada and other nations this week formally recognised Palestinian statehood.

NETANYAHU SET TO ADDRESS UN AND MEET TRUMP

Israel has become diplomatically isolated over its military siege of Gaza, with European nations and others increasingly critical of its conduct.

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in the Gaza war. Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes in Gaza.

Netanyahu has retained the backing of the US, Israel's most important ally, and Trump told the UN this week that moves to recognise a Palestinian state risked rewarding what he called Hamas atrocities and could encourage continued conflict.

Netanyahu is expected to address the General Assembly on Friday and meet Trump next week. Leaving Israel on Thursday, Netanyahu said he would denounce leaders who had recognised a Palestinian state.

He said he would discuss the war in Gaza with Trump, including defeating Hamas and freeing hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. He said he also intended to discuss efforts to expand diplomatic relations with countries that do not officially recognise Israel.