Over 115 projectiles crossed from Lebanon into northern Israel, IDF says
Israeli forces have identified over 115 projectiles crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel on Tuesday, the IDF said.
Hezbollah has also released statements about eight different attacks on northern Israel Tuesday.
IAF strike a Hezbollah military structure in the area of Matmoura in southern Lebanon, alongside an additional Hezbollah military structure in the area, Aug. 20, 2024.
Israel Defense Forces
Two people were killed after Israeli strikes on the town of Al-Dhahira Tuesday, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said.
-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Ghazi Balkiz
Aug 20, 2024, 12:03 PM EDT
IDF strikes Gaza school sheltering displaced Palestinians
At least 12 people have been killed in another strike on a school in the Gaza Strip where displaced people were sheltering, the Gaza Civil Defense said Tuesday.
The Mustafa Khaft school in western Gaza City was hit by the Israeli air force, Israel confirmed in a statement, alleging that Hamas was using the facility as a command center.
Palestinians carry their children as they flee after an Israeli strike on a school, housing displaced Palestinians, in the Rimal neighborhood of central Gaza City on Aug. 20, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant Hamas group.
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images
"The command and control center was embedded and hidden by the Hamas terrorist organization inside," the IDF statement said. "Hamas terrorists used the command and control center to plan and execute attacks against IDF troops and the state of Israel."
The IDF said it took "numerous steps" to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, "including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence."
A number of people are still missing after the strike, according to the Gaza Civil Defense. Around 700 people were sheltering in the school, according to Palestinian officials.
Palestinians inspect a school sheltering displaced people after it was hit by an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City, Aug. 20, 2024.
Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters
Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted Gaza schools -- some of which are doubling as shelters for people displaced by the fierce fighting -- they say are being used as Hamas military hubs and weapon storage sites.
Earlier this month, the U.N. Human Rights Office accused Israel of "systematic attacks" on schools following a strike on the Al Tabae'en School in Gaza City.
-ABC News' Sami Zayara and Joe Simonetti
Aug 20, 2024, 5:37 AM EDT
Bodies of 6 hostages recovered from southern Gaza
The bodies of six Israeli hostages were recovered in an overnight operation inside the Gaza Strip.
The six men were found in a tunnel in the southern city of Khan Younis during a joint Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency -- also known as Shin Bet -- operation.
The hostages are Alex Dancyg, 75, Yagev Buchshtav, 35, Chaim Peri, 79, Yoram Metzger, 80, Nadav Popplewell, 51, and Avraham Munder, 78.
This combination of pictures created on Aug. 20, 2024, shows undated handout portraits by The Hostages Families Forum, representing families of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants in Gaza, showing hostages (clockwork from top L) Yoram Metzger, Abraham Munder, Yagev Buchshtab, Nadav Popplewell, Alex Dancyg and Chaim Peri.
The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters/AFP via Getty Images
All had been declared dead before their bodies were recovered. The cause of their deaths has not been revealed. Funerals are expected for some of the dead later on Tuesday.
-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti
Aug 19, 2024, 5:39 PM EDT
Senior Hamas official throws cold water on Blinken's announcement
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's talk about approving an updated proposal means that the U.S. administration failed to convince Netanyahu of the previous deal that Hamas had already agreed to back on July 2.
Hamdan made the comments during an interview with Al Jazeera on Monday evening local time after Blinken's meeting with Netanyahu in Israel and announcement that Netanyahu had voiced support for the U.S.-backed bridging proposal.
Hamdan said that all the U.S. side is doing is buying time for Israel to "continue its crimes of genocide."
