Dozens killed in Gaza school raid...Blinken "Starting ceasefire negotiations in a few days"

[Anchor]
Dozens of casualties have been caused by Israeli airstrikes at school buildings in Gaza, Palestine.

While Israel has not slowed down its offensive since the Hamas chief's killing, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken says ceasefire negotiations will begin in the coming days.

Reporter Lee Kyung-ah reports.

[Reporter]
Children who have been injured all over the body are brought one after another.

A child who can't stop crying in pain.

Inside the hospital, there is a constant sound of wailing in front of the deceased family.

Israeli forces have attacked a school building that used to be used as refugee accommodation in Gaza, Palestine.

Of the 17 deaths, 13 were children, including a baby less than a year old.

Israeli forces say they are targeting Hamas members on the school grounds.

Israel has not slowed down its Gaza offensive since the killing of Hamas head Shinwar.

[Herji Halebi / Commander of the Israeli Armed Forces] Our other achievement is to topple the Zabaliya Brigade of Hamas. It collapsed mentally and physically.

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who visited Qatar amid growing civilian damage, said ceasefire negotiations would soon resume.

[Secretary of State Tony Blinken]: We discussed the Hamas situation after the death of Sinwar and the options to take advantage of it and the steps to make progress. I expect the cease-fire negotiators to gather in the next few days.]

Qatar, which has been mediating in ceasefire negotiations, also said it has recently contacted Hamas several times.

[Sheikh Muhammad / Qatari Prime Minister: We have contacted the Hamas mission in Doha, Qatar. I had a meeting with them in recent days.]

Local reports said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered Hamas to pursue negotiations on the release of detained hostages.

Expectations for ceasefire negotiations are growing, but some analysts say Netanyahu will continue the war until the U.S. presidential election.

If former President Trump is elected, he believes that he can start discussing the end of the war in a political environment favorable to him.

Meanwhile, the international community has raised 1 billion dollars, about 1.4 trillion won, to support Lebanon's refugees and military forces, which have become another battleground.

I'm YTN Lee Kyungah.