Israeli Strikes Kill 17 in Gaza Amid Failed US Peace Push

The Military of Israel conducted a series of airstrikes and a ground raid across the Gaza Strip between August 18 and 20, 2026, killing at least 17 Palestinians. On Tuesday, a strike on a seaside cafe in Gaza City killed seven people, including a child. This was followed by Wednesday strikes that killed nine people at a municipal police headquarters in Gaza City and one person in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Israeli officials stated the targets were Hamas commanders and members of the Popular Resistance Committees planning attacks, including individuals involved in the October 7 massacre.

These military actions occurred as diplomatic efforts led by US envoy Jared Kushner stalled. While Hamas accepted a US-backed roadmap for phased decommissioning of weapons in exchange for Israeli withdrawal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the proposal. Netanyahu insisted on complete disarmament before any military withdrawal, while Kushner maintained that Gaza would not be rebuilt until demilitarization occurs.

Hamas officials condemned the strikes as war crimes and accused the Trump administration's Board of Peace of providing cover for Israeli escalation. Simultaneously, a Hamas delegation met with the Qatari Prime Minister in Doha to discuss the US proposal. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the total Palestinian death toll since October 2023 has reached 73,417, noting that 1,283 people have been killed since a ceasefire was established in October 2025.