Intensified Israeli assault on Gaza, met with fresh American ceasefire initiative

In a shocking turn of events, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bustling bus stop in Jerusalem, leaving six innocent civilians dead and several others wounded. This attack marks the deadliest assault on Israeli civilians in nearly a year.

The group presumed to have supported the attackers is the Islamist militant organisation, Hamas. However, no group has officially claimed responsibility for the heinous act. Yet, Hamas has praised the attackers as heroic resistance fighters.

The tragic incident has sparked immediate negotiations towards ending the ongoing war, with Israel considering a U.S. proposal in which Hamas would release all of its hostages on Day 1 of a ceasefire in Gaza. However, details about this proposed ceasefire are yet to be disclosed.

Amidst the chaos, Israeli troops have encircled villages in the West Bank area from where the gunmen originated. Furthermore, there has been a significant Israeli military crackdown throughout the West Bank during the ongoing conflict.

Israel's Defense Minister has threatened to invade more areas of the West Bank following the attack, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Palestinians to evacuate Gaza City ahead of a potential Israeli ground invasion.

The Palestinian Authority President has strongly condemned the attack, while a senior Hamas official has labelled the U.S. proposal a humiliating surrender document.

The aftermath of today's strike, which destroyed a 12-story office building, was captured by NPR's Anas Baba. People were seen caught in huge rolling clouds of debris, with many caked in white dust. Gaza's civil defense group reports that huge tent camps for displaced families surrounding these buildings were destroyed in these strikes.

Israel has accused Hamas of planting explosive devices or using these buildings as observation towers. Despite this, the White House has presented a new proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, but the specifics of this proposal remain undisclosed.

The victims of the attack include two rabbis, a woman, and others, highlighting the senseless loss of life in this conflict. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community calls for a swift resolution to the ongoing violence and a return to peace.

Intensified Israeli assault on Gaza, met with fresh American ceasefire initiative