At least 26 people have been killed in Israeli military strikes on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, medical workers said on Thursday (November 28). Doctors said Israel had stepped up its bombardment of central Gaza, with tanks moving deeper into the north and south of the city.

The Reuters news agency reported on Friday (November 29). The report said the incident came a day after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah began, and a similar deal was expected in Gaza.

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon came into effect on Wednesday, ending nearly 14 months of conflict. In response, Gaza's ruling party Hamas also signaled it wanted a ceasefire. However, Israel did not comment.

Amal Abu Hamid, a displaced person from Gaza, said, “I hope there will be a ceasefire like in Lebanon. I just want to take my children to see my land, my house, to see what they have done to us, I want to be safe.”

“Allah willing, we will have a ceasefire,” he said, sitting in the courtyard of a school that is sheltering displaced families in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. “Life was beautiful before the war. Now there is nothing beautiful, it is all over. Our homes are gone, our brothers are gone, there is no one left. Now we get very little. We don’t even get bread for one meal.”

Announcing the Lebanon deal on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said he would now press for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. He said the US would create another push with regional powers for a ceasefire in Gaza, including the release of hostages and the removal of Hamas from power.

However, overall, there has been little progress in efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza. The talks are now stalled. Mediating countries have also lost some interest.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel. About 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Since that day, Israel has launched a massive attack on Gaza. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, more than 44,000 people have been killed and many more injured in Gaza since then.

Australia has banned the use of social media by those under 16. The country's upper house of parliament, the Senate, approved the law on Thursday (November 28).

The news agency Reuters reported that it will be implemented at least a year later, in 2025. The law provides for fines against Meta-owned Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Companies that violate the law will be fined at least 50 million Australian dollars.

The new process will initially start next January and will be implemented within a year.

However, critics say questions remain about how the ban will be enforced. In addition, it is not clear how it will affect privacy and social connections.

Prime Minister Albanese introduced the law in the lower house of parliament last week. At the time, he said, "This is a global problem. We want young Australians to have a real childhood. We want parents to have peace of mind.’

Meanwhile, critics also say that the ban could lead to an increase in VPN use. Because anyone in Australia can easily access banned social media using a VPN. In addition, it is not certain whether the technology the government plans to use for age verification will work properly.

In addition, the law does not specify which social media will be banned. These decisions will be made later by the Australian Communications Minister. In this case, he will seek advice from the e-safety commissioner.

However, gaming and messaging platforms will be exempt from the ban. In addition, sites that can be accessed without an account, such as YouTube, may also be exempt from the ban.

Residents of southern Lebanon have begun returning to their homes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah takes effect. Although there are concerns about whether the ceasefire will lead to a permanent solution to the fighting, there is relief among the country's residents.

The Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported that residents of southern Lebanon have begun returning to their homes with joy within hours of the ceasefire, which began at 4am local time on Wednesday (November 27).

This caused traffic jams on the highway connecting the capital Beirut with the south. Residents were returning with their belongings on their cars. The heavy pressure of vehicles blocked traffic at the northern entrance to the port city of Sidon. Some began returning to the coastal city of Tyre on motorcycles.

The Lebanese army, which is responsible for implementing the ceasefire, said in a statement that preparations are being made to deploy troops in the south of the country. In addition, they have requested residents of border villages not to return to their areas until the Israeli troops have withdrawn.

Meanwhile, local authorities said that at least 42 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon on Tuesday. Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel in response.

It is worth noting that at least 3,823 people have been killed and 15,859 injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since the war in Gaza began last October. 

Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with the Lebanese-based armed Islamist group Hezbollah. Under pressure from close allies the United States and France, Israel has finally agreed to a ceasefire. If all goes well, Israel will soon announce a ceasefire in Lebanon.

On Tuesday (November 26), CNN reported, citing the Times of Israel, that on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will order approval of a 60-day ceasefire proposal with Hezbollah. This period will be extended later depending on the situation.

However, Israeli officials do not believe that Israel's war with Hezbollah is ending.

An Israeli official said, "We do not know how long this ceasefire will last. It could be a month, it could be a year."

US President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Kirby said at a briefing on Monday that "we can't say for sure until everything happens, but we are close to a ceasefire agreement."

A statement from the French president's office also gave similar information.

Meanwhile, in a speech to the Israeli parliament Knesset on November 18, Netanyahu said that even if a ceasefire proposal is accepted in Lebanon, Israeli forces will continue to operate to achieve specific objectives.

In the speech, Netanyahu said, "What is on paper is not important. Even if the paper (ceasefire proposal) is signed, we (Israel) will have to continue attacking in the north. Even if a ceasefire is declared, I cannot guarantee that it will be respected."