Escalation in Gaza: Israeli Airstrikes Kill 17 Palestinians Amid Evacuation Orders

At least 17 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the town of Zawayda in central Gaza. This comes as Israel issues new evacuation orders citing Hamas rocket fire. The strikes occurred prior to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Israel, aimed at mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

At least 17 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike in the central Gaza town of Zawayda on Saturday, according to health officials. The attack coincided with new evacuation orders from Israel, which cited Hamas rocket fire in the vicinity as the reason for the action.

Israel also announced the fatalities of two soldiers, as reported by Israeli media, who were killed on Saturday afternoon when a roadside bomb exploded in the central Gaza Strip. Additionally, an airstrike in the West Bank killed two senior Hamas militants involved in the killing of an Israeli.

The violence precedes the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel on Sunday. Blinken is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday as part of heightened diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

(With inputs from agencies.)