Live Updates: Israel kills Gaza civilians as US touts progress in truce talks

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

04:20 GMT — Israel kills Gaza civilians as US touts progress in truce talks

Israel has killed at least nine Palestinian civilians, including children, in a strike that targeted a gathering of civilians in the al-Shati (Beach) camp west of Gaza City, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported.

"The occupation's warplanes also targeted a residential tower West of Khan Younis in southern Gaza," it reported.

3:40 GMT — Hamas says US buying time for Israel to continue genocide

Hamas resistance group's spokesperson Osama Hamdan has said the Palestinian group will adhere to ceasefire plan that was previously proposed by US President Joe Biden, adding Washington was buying time for Netanyahu regime to continue its genocide in Gaza.

The US is "merely buying time for Israel to continue its genocide," Hamdan told Al Jazeera after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured him of support for a US proposal to bridge gaps on a Gaza ceasefire.

"The Israelis have retreated from issues included in Biden’s proposal. Netanyahu’s talk about agreeing to an updated proposal indicates that the US administration has failed to convince him to accept the previous agreement," Hamdan told the Qatar-headquartered broadcaster.

03:00 GMT — Pro-Palestine protesters rally outside of DNS in Chicago

Thousands of protesters have marched toward the site of the Democratic National Convention on its open ing day to voice their opposition to Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.

Protesters said their plans have not changed since President Joe Biden left the race and the party quickly rallied behind Vice President Kamala Harris, who will formally accept the Democratic nomination this week. Activists said they were ready to amplify their progressive message before the nation's top Democratic leaders.

“We have to play our part in the belly of the beast to stop the genocide, to end US aid to Israel and stand with Palestine," said Hatem Abudayyeh, a spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC, which includes hundreds of organisations.

For our live updates from Monday, August 19, 2024, click here.