Israel-Gaza live updates: Israeli forces strike another school in Gaza, killing 2

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, cease-fire discussions are occurring in the Middle East, with officials hoping to bring an end to the conflict.

The United States and its allies continue to plead for a cease-fire deal, with discussions set for this week.

Latest Developments

_{Aug 21, 2:06 PM}

Israeli forces strike another school in Gaza, killing 2

Two people were killed and 15 others were injured after Israeli forces conducted a strike on the Salah al-Din school in Gaza City on Wednesday.

This is the second strike conducted on a school in Gaza this week. Israeli forces repeatedly claim Hamas uses and operates out of schools inside Gaza.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

_{Aug 21, 12:56 PM}

1 killed in Lebanon as tensions continue to rise

One man was killed in an Israeli strike on Sidon in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. Hezbollah also announced the death of another of its members on Wednesday.

Hezbollah also released statements taking responsibility for 10 attacks on northern Israel.

About 50 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon toward northern Israel, a number of which struck the town of Katzrin, where about 8,000 people live, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

One person was injured and is in moderate condition, according to Israeli emergency services.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Ghazi Balkiz

_{Aug 20, 6:31 PM}

1 dead, 19 injured in strikes on Lebanon's Beqaa Valley

One person was killed and 19 others have been injured from Israeli strikes on the Beqaa Valley, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said Tuesday.

Separately, Hezbollah officials announced that four of their fighters were killed Tuesday.

-ABC News’ William Gretsky

_{Aug 20, 4:47 PM}

'Time is of the essence,' Blinken says of cease-fire talks

Before wrapping up his trip to the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to members of the media on a tarmac in Qatar, emphasizing the urgency behind the latest push for a hostage release and cease-fire agreement in Gaza.

"Our message is simple, it's clear, and it's urgent. We need to get the cease-fire and hostage agreement over the finish line, and we need to do it now," he said.

"Time is of the essence, because with every passing day, the well-being and lives of the hostages are in jeopardy. Time is of the essence, because every single day, women, children, men in Gaza are suffering," he said. "And time is of the essence because with every passing day, there's the danger of escalation in the region."

Blinken said Qatar and Egypt remain "in direct contact with Hamas working to bring it along" with the bridging proposal, but he again made clear that even if that were to happen, all sides would still need to complete "detailed implementation agreements that go along with putting the cease-fire into effect."

_{Aug 20, 4:41 PM}

Netanyahu throws cold water on reaching a cease-fire deal, hostage forum says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told representatives of the hostage families that "Israel will not under any circumstances withdraw from the Philadelphie axis and the Netzer Corridor despite tremendous pressure to do so," according to a release from the Tikva Forum of hostage families.

"I'm not sure there will be a deal, but if there is a deal -- the deal will be one that preserves the interests that I repeat over and over again, which are the preservation of Israel's strategic assets. The demand that there be negotiations, even in the future -- a demand that is unacceptable, even if there is a deal -- after 42 days, we will return to fighting immediately, until the elimination of Hamas, even while negotiating the next steps," Netanyahu told hostage families.

"The military pressure will continue with full force, this is the only thing that makes Hamas drop its unreasonable demands," Netanyahu added.

Asked by ABC News, Netanyahu's office said they had nothing to add beyond a press release that did not include the comments.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Dana Savir

_{Aug 20, 3:38 PM}

Bodies of hostages found in area where IDF had previously operated, IDF spokesman says

The bodies of six hostages recovered by Israeli Defense Forces were found in an area where Israeli forces had previously operated in Khan Younis, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in remarks to the press Tuesday.

The circumstances of the hostages' deaths are being investigated, Hagari added.

"The operation was led by the 98th Division, which returned to operate in the Khan Younis area for the third time a few weeks ago, this time with new intelligence and new targets," Hagari said.

-ABC News’ Jordana Miller

_{Aug 20, 3:35 PM}

US official criticizes Netanyahu's reported comments

As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues his meetings with Middle Eastern mediators working toward a Gaza cease-fire deal, a senior U.S. official traveling with his delegation is criticizing comments about the process emanating from both Israel and Hamas, casting them as unproductive.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, addressed reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a hawkish stance in a meeting with hostage families, telling them he was "unsure" there would be an agreement to return those held captive in Gaza and that he would not withdraw troops from strategic areas of the enclave -- a key sticking point in negotiations.

"Maximalist statements like this are not constructive to getting a cease-fire deal across the finish lines," the official said. "And they certainly risk the ability of implementing and working level and technical talks to be able to move forward when both parties agree to a bridging proposal."

The senior official also dismissed Hamas’ latest statement accusing the U.S. of "blind bias towards Israel."

"They say a lot of things and they do a lot of different things," the official said, suggesting the militant group’s ongoing engagement was an indication that Hamas was still involved in the negotiation process despite its insistences to the contrary.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston

_{Aug 20, 2:46 PM}

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.

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, 12:03 PM}

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.

"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.

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, 8:53 AM}

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.

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

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