Israel-Iran latest: Hezbollah and Iran vow retaliation as World Central Kitchen honors worker killed

At least 16 people have been killed after Israel conducted airstrikes on two school complexes being used to shelter displaced people in the northern Gaza Strip, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense.

Israel’s military said that the attacks were intended to destroy Hamas “command-and-control centers” inside the school compounds in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, according to reports. At least 40 people were killed in total on Thursday in bombardments on Gaza, Palestinian officials said.

Israel continues to await retaliation for the killing of Hamas and Hezbollah chiefs in Beirut and Tehran, with intelligence suggesting that the Lebanese militant group is poised to “strike independently” of Iran.

Hezbollah are moving more quickly than their more powerful ally in planning their retaliation and are looking to strike Israel in the coming days, CNN reported.

Also on Thursday, World Central Kitchen paid tribute to Nadi Salem Awad Salout, an employee who was killed by an Israeli airstrike on August 7 near Deir al-Balah, Gaza.

The charity described the 37-year-old as “an integral member” of its team from the early days of its response and “a humanitarian at his very core.

The leaders of the US, Egypt and Qatar released a statement on Thursday in which they vowed to “bring immediate relied” to the people of Gaza, those held hostage, and their families.

“The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal,” the statement read.

“The three of us and our teams have worked tirelessly over many months to forge a framework agreement that is now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude. This agreement is based on the principles as outlined by President Biden on May