Netanyahu meets Trump at critical moment for Gaza
Washington/Gaza
US President Donald Trump was set to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday as the United States pushes to secure a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas.
Trump was scheduled to meet Netanyahu for talks at 6:30pm (0030 CET Tuesday), followed by a private dinner.
The meeting comes after Trump said on Sunday he hoped to secure a ceasefire deal and the release of hostages held in Gaza this week.
Netanyahu, however, reiterated shortly before departing for Washington that he would not accept any agreement that allows Hamas to remain in power in the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli media reports, Israel is attempting to weaken the Palestinian group by promoting gangs in Gaza, which reportedly now control large parts of the coastal territory.
A high-ranking Hamas officer told the British broadcaster BBC that the militia had lost control of around 80% of Gaza, leaving a power vacuum that armed gangs are exploiting.
The Hamas member, described by the BBC as a lieutenant colonel, was injured at the start of the Gaza war and has reportedly not been on duty since.
Israeli forces continued to pound Gaza, including attacks on aid seekers and medical clinics, with at least 42 Palestinians killed on Monday.
Hamas has said the 'crimes' of Israel against unarmed civilians in the Gaza Strip are continuing through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Hamas said in a short statement that aid sites run by the private US entity have become 'death traps operated by the occupation forces under American cover'.
'This increases the number of martyrs daily and reveals the criminal nature of thissystem.'
At least 750 Palestinians have been killed by attacks targeting aid distribution sites since May 27 when the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation took over operations from United Nations-led agencies.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have announced the seizure of 74 hectares (183 acres) of land in the Palestinian villages of al-Mughayyir and Khirbet Jaba'it, northeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.
The area has been declared 'state land' to tighten control and expand illegal settlements, Wafa news agency reported, citing the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.
The area includes the Malachei HaShalom outpost, which was built illegally in 2015 on al-Mughayyir's land. The commission said the move aims to 'legalise' and expand this outpost, which Israel's far-right government pledged to approve two years ago.
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