The Latest on the Israel-Gaza Conflict

Israel continues heavy airstrikes on Gaza after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly rejected a phased 135-day ceasefire offer from Hamas, vowing instead to achieve “total victory” even as the Palestinian death toll tops a staggering 27,000 by local counts. Israel confirms plans to battle deeper into Gaza cities like Rafah in the south, where over 1 million displaced people have dangerously fled, drawing grave warnings of an even more disastrous humanitarian fallout from the United States and United Nations. Regional mediation attempts show little progress so far.