Israeli strikes kill 103 in Gaza as Arab mediators push for truce

Israeli military strikes killed at least 103 people in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Palestinian civil agency said, as the United States and Arab mediators pushed for a ceasefire deal and US President Donald Trump visited Gulf countries.

Palestinian health officials say the Israeli attacks have escalated since Trump started a visit on Tuesday to the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that many Palestinians had hoped he would use to push for a truce.

Hamas says it is ready to free all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza in return for an end to the war, while the Israeli PM prefers interim truces, saying the war can only end once Hamas is eradicated.

Trump, as he wrapped up his visit to Qatar, stopped by a US installation at the centre of American involvement in the region to speak with US troops.

He urged Qatari officials to use their influence to entice Iran to come to terms with his administration on a deal to curb its N-programme. Trump said progress has been made in the talks but warned a “violent step” could be coming if a deal is not reached.

“They can’t have a nuclear weapon. That's the only thing. It's very simple,” he said.

On Gaza, Trump reiterated his desire to take over the Gaza Strip, telling a business roundtable in Qatar that the US would “make it a freedom zone” and arguing there was nothing left to save in the Palestinian territory.

Later, Trump began a visit to the UAE that is likely to deepen cooperation on AI.