Israel Hostage Crisis: Families Storm Parliament Seeking Deal as Gaza Rebuilds Amid Calls for Palestinian State
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Family members of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza stormed Israel's parliament demanding a deal for their release. Over 100 hostages remain after a November ceasefire freed some captives.
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Israel has vowed to continue its offensive in Gaza until all hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated, but there is growing pressure from the U.S. and international community to negotiate.
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The war has left large parts of Gaza unlivable. Repeated blackouts and loss of communication networks are severely hampering humanitarian aid efforts.
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At least 25,295 Palestinians have been killed and over 60,000 wounded. Israel has rejected calls for a Palestinian state and Gaza's governance by the Palestinian Authority after the war.
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At a meeting in Brussels, European Union foreign ministers joined calls for the creation of a Palestinian state, which Israel's Prime Minister has rejected.