• US envoys in Israel to discuss fate of ‘New Gaza’ plan
• Italy urged to join ‘ISF’ as founding member
GAZA CITY: Israeli forces on Saturday killed two Palestinian teenagers in a drone strike near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, while another drone strike killed another Palestinian in Jabalia area, Gaza’s civil defence said.
The civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas authority, said the drone strike killed the two teenagers near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza.
The territory’s Al Shifa Hospital said it received the two bodies, adding they were two boys aged 13 and 15.
The Israeli military claimed the pair had posed an “immediate threat” to its soldiers.
Another fatality was also reported in a separate incident when an Israeli quadcopter struck a group of civilians in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, leaving one Palestinian dead, the civil defence agency said. It did not provide details on the person killed in that incident.
Israeli forces have killed at least 477 Palestinians in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Israeli media restrictions in Gaza and other areas mean casualty figures cannot be verified.
US envoys in Israel
Meanwhile, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Israel on Saturday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mainly to discuss Gaza, two people briefed on the matter said.
The US on Thursday announced plans for a “New Gaza” rebuilt from scratch, to include residential towers, data centres and seaside resorts. The project forms part of President Donald Trump’s push to advance an October ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas that has been shaken by repeated violations.
A spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister’s office confirmed that the meeting was planned but did not provide details.
US asks Italy to join Gaza force
In a related development, the US has asked Italy to join the International Stabilisation Force for Gaza as a founding member, Bloomberg News reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2026
