Israel accused of killing dozens in stepped-up Gaza operations as Trump hopes for a ceasefire in days

Israel's military said Tuesday that it had expanded its operations in Gaza, where residents reported fierce gunfire and shelling days ahead of a planned trip to Washington by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The intensified operations came after days of mounting calls for a ceasefire, with President Trump — whom Netanyahu is slated to meet with next week — among those urging Israel to strike a deal to halt the war and bring home the hostages still held in Gaza. Mr. Trump said Tuesday that he hoped a ceasefire agreement would be reached "sometime next week."

Israel's campaign to destroy the Palestinian militant group Hamas has continued unabated, however, with Hamas-ruled Gaza's civil defense agency reporting that Israeli forces had killed 17 people on Tuesday, with dozens more feared to be trapped under rubble.