Israeli Airstrikes Kill 40 Palestinians as Netanyahu, Trump Discuss Gaza Ceasefire

At least 40 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza amid intensified efforts to finalize a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal aimed at pausing the 21-month conflict, securing the release of Israeli hostages, and delivering humanitarian aid. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met twice with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where Trump expressed confidence in reaching a truce agreement. Despite ongoing negotiations, Israeli military strikes continued, targeting militant sites and tunnels while Israel accused Hamas of embedding fighters and weapons among civilians, leading to significant civilian casualties including women and children. Palestinian civilians, displaced and suffering from shortages of food and water, remain desperate for a lasting ceasefire, though skepticism and fear persist. Within Israel, political figures hold divergent views on the conflict's resolution, unanimously agreeing that Hamas must not survive, but debating whether to pursue total military defeat or establish a political alternative in Gaza. Netanyahu ruled out a full Palestinian state, emphasizing continued Israeli security control over Gaza, while Trump ramps up pressure to end the military campaign.