Netanyahu could visit the U.S. soon, Trump says as dozens killed by strike on school in Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces said early Friday it was conducting fresh ground operations in the area of Shejaiya in northern Gaza. “Numerous” militants had been killed, with infrastructure also destroyed, including what it described as a Hamas “command and control” center, it added.

More than 50,500 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to enclave’s health ministry. Israel launched its offensive after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

At least 59 hostages remain held in Gaza, of which just around two dozen are believed to still be alive, including Israeli American Edan Alexander. 

Netanyahu, who said Tuesday that he would expand of Israel’s offensive in Gaza to ramp up pressure on the Palestinian enclave “so that they will give us our hostages,” is currently in Hungary, where officials have ignored a warrant for his arrest from the International Criminal Court.

Issued in November, the warrant accused Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant of crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza. Hungary’s right-wing prime minister, Viktor Orbán, a well-known supporter of Israel, vowed to defy the court’s directive shortly afterwards.

Hungary signaled on Thursday it plans to withdraw from the world court, which is not recognized by the U.S. and Israel either.