**Middle East Crisis Update: Netanyahu Broadens Gaza War Objectives; Blinken Travels to Egypt** Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expanded the objectives of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, now aiming to facilitate the return of residents to areas in northern Israel that were evacuated following attacks by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Cairo, marking his tenth trip to the region since the onset of the war. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have detained 30 Palestinians over the past 24 hours, including a child and several former prisoners, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society and the Detainees and Ex-Detainees Commission. Since October 7, 2023, the total number of Palestinians arrested in the West Bank has reportedly exceeded 10,700.

At least 14 individuals have lost their lives following a series of Israeli airstrikes in central and southern Gaza, according to reports from Palestinian civil defense officials. The strikes occurred overnight, intensifying the ongoing conflict in the region.

In a tragic incident, an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza that was providing shelter for displaced Palestinians resulted in the deaths of 14 individuals, including six United Nations aid workers. The attack highlights the ongoing violence in the region, as additional Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of 11 people in Khan Younis and eight others in the occupied West Bank. The situation remains dire as the conflict continues to escalate, affecting countless civilians.

The United Nations has denounced a recent Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in Gaza, describing the attack as "unconscionable" due to the significant loss of life it caused. In response, Israel has stated that the strike was aimed at high-ranking Hamas officials and was conducted using precision munitions.