DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — European officials struck a new deal with Israel to allow desperately needed food and fuel into Gaza, the European Union's foreign policy chief said Thursday as Israeli airstrike killed 10 children and five adults waiting for care outside a medical clinic.
The announcement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to leave Washington after meetings with President Donald Trump, apparently without finalizing a temporary ceasefire advocated by the White House.
Netanyahu said Israel continues to pursue a deal for a 60-day pause in the fighting and the release of half of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza, many of them believed dead.
Once that deal is in place, Israel is prepared to negotiate a permanent end to the war, Netanyahu said — but only on condition that Hamas disarms and gives up its governing and military capabilities in Gaza.
''If this can be achieved through negotiations — so much the better," he said in a video statement. "If it is not achieved through negotiations in 60 days, we will achieve it in other ways; by using force, the force of our heroic army.''
Still, U.S. officials held out hope that restarting high-level negotiations — mediated by Egypt and Qatar and including White House envoy Steve Witkoff — could bring progress.
''We're closer than we've been in quite a while and we're hopeful, but we also recognize there's still some challenges in the way,'' U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Deal to increase aid