Israeli strikes kill 17 Palestinians in Gaza amid growing ceasefire calls

Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 17 Palestinians, including many children, amid escalating international calls for a ceasefire. The attacks targeted areas including the central town of Zawaida, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis, resulting in significant civilian casualties and destruction. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France recognized a Palestinian state as a strategy to isolate Hamas, which continues to survive despite military efforts against it. Macron has been urging US President Donald Trump to press Israel for a ceasefire, emphasizing that war alone cannot end Hamas and that there must be a path to peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized countries recognizing Palestinian statehood ahead of his UN General Assembly speech, while some Israeli ministers consider annexation of the West Bank a red line for France and the US. The situation underscores the deepening conflict and the complexity of international diplomacy surrounding efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.