Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his military's course of action in the Gaza Strip, which has been internationally criticized, while condemning Israel's critics in a much-awaited speech at the United Nations on Friday.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel struck houses and tents in central and southern Gaza Thursday, crushing families inside and killing at least 17 people, including 10 children and three women, local health officials said, as international pressure for a ceasefire continued to grow.

The city had been spared from widespread demolitions during previous military operations there. This time is different.

Reservists and hostage families condemn Netanyahu's UN speech plan, calling the mission life-threatening and criticizing its real objective. Soldiers serving in the Gaza Strip and their parents have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of lying about a controversial plan to broadcast his UN General Assembly speech to Gaza residents.

Israel struck houses and tents in central and southern Gaza Thursday, crushing families inside and killing 17 people, including 10 children and three women, local health officials said, as international pressure for a ceasefire continued to grow.

The body would oversee the reconstruction and governance of the beleaguered Strip with Tony Blair heading it for up to five years, it has been claimed

Netanyahu made sure that the residents of Gaza heard what he had to say by allegedly ‘taking control’ of their phones to broadcast his UNGA speech.

As the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), carrying international aid, sails toward the Gaza Strip, South African activists involved in the mission have called on the international community to oppose what they describe as Israel's genocidal actions.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that Hamas will have no role in governing a postwar Gaza Strip, virtually addressing the United Nations General Assembly after the Trump

Noor Abu Hassira is one of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians staying in Gaza City as Israel presses on with an offensive to take it over.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited troops in the southern Gaza Strip today, reiterating that the military is “doing everything to bring the hostages back quickly and to defeat Hamas.”