At least 20 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to local medical sources. Seven people were killed north-west of Gaza City at a humanitarian aid distribution site.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will “allow” Palestinians to leave during an upcoming military offensive in some of the territory’s most populated areas.

Libya, South Sudan and Syria are among the countries Israel has spoken to in its effort to move hundreds of thousands from the enclave.

The United Kingdom plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel commits to peace in the Gaza Strip and to stopping the annexation of the West Bank.

Hundreds of mourners in Gaza gathered for the funerals of 5 Al Jazeera journalists killed by an Israeli strike on a press tent. Two more freelancers died.

The families denounced Netanyahu’s plan to expand military operations. Yehuda Cohen, the father of Nimrod Cohen, an Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza, said from the boat that Netanyahu is prolonging the war to satisfy extremists in his government and to prevent it from collapsing.

Obeid, known fondly as the Palestinian Pele, was killed in an attack by Israeli forces while waiting for humanitarian aid, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said. Al-Obeid, who was 41, leaves behind a wife and five children.

The Italian Air Force flew the evacuees to Rome, Milan and Pisa in three C-130 cargo aeroplanes from the southern city of Eilat in Israel.View on euronews