GAZA, Apr 09 (BBC/AFP): At least 29 Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a multi-storey residential building in the east of Gaza City, a local hospital says.
The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said warplanes targeted the area near al-Hawashi mosque in the Shejaiya neighbourhood on Tuesday morning.
It said eight children were among the dead, more than 60 people were injured, and that rescuers were still searching for two dozen others under the rubble.
Salim said the dead were "torn to pieces". "Even now, emergency crews are still transporting the dead and the injured. It is truly a horrific massacre," he said.
A crew from the Gaza civil defence agency rushed to the scene, only to find several people trapped under the rubble, a rescuer said.
"This house was home to many people who believed they were safe. It was blown up over their heads," Ibrahim Abu al-Rish told AFP. He added that the strike hit while many children were playing inside.
"The house was directly bombed, and the entire residential area was destroyed," he said. "We pulled out the remains of women and children. There are still people buried under the rubble."
When asked by AFP about the strike the military said it "struck a senior Hamas terrorist who was responsible for planning and executing terrorist attacks" from the area.
It did not give the target's name and renewed its claim, denied by Hamas, that the militant group uses "human shields".
Hamas condemned the strike as one of the "most heinous acts of genocide."
Netanyahu-Trump talks reveal
unexpected gaps on key issues
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington for a hastily organized White House visit bringing a long list of concerns: Iran's nuclear program. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The surging influence of rival Turkey in Syria. And the 18-month war in Gaza.
Netanyahu appeared to leave Monday's meeting largely empty-handed - a stark contrast with his triumphant visit two months ago. During an hourlong Oval Office appearance, Trump appeared to slap down, contradict or complicate each of Netanyahu's policy prerogatives.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu declared the meeting a success, calling it a "very good visit" and claiming successes on all fronts. But privately, the Israeli delegation felt it was a tough meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Netanyahu "didn't hear exactly what he wanted to hear, so he returns back home with very little," said Nadav Eyal, a commentator with the Yediot Ahronot daily, who added that the visit was still friendly, despite the disagreements.
Indonesia to temporarily
shelter wounded Gazans
Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday said he was prepared to grant temporary shelter to Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza between the Israeli military and the territory's rulers Hamas.
Nearly 400,000 Gaza residents have been displaced in the weeks since Israel resumed military operations in the territory last month, according to the United Nations.
"We are ready to receive wounded victims," Prabowo said before leaving for a Middle East visit to the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan.
"We are ready to send planes to transport them. We estimate the numbers may be 1,000 for the first wave."
Wounded Palestinians and "traumatised, orphaned children" would be prioritised, he said.
He said he had instructed his foreign minister to talk with Palestinian officials and "parties in the region" on how to evacuate wounded or orphaned Gazans.
The victims would only be in Indonesia until they recovered and it was safe for their return.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has consistently called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
