DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) - Efforts for a U.S.-led ceasefire in Gaza are reportedly gaining traction after nearly 21 months of conflict. Israel, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, is set to send a negotiating team to Qatar for discussions on a potential ceasefire. The statement indicated that Hamas is seeking "unacceptable" modifications to the proposed terms. U.S. President Donald Trump has been advocating for an agreement and will meet with Netanyahu at the White House on Monday to further discuss the deal.
Tragically, the conflict has claimed more lives, as Israeli airstrikes killed 14 Palestinians, with an additional 10 fatalities occurring among individuals seeking food aid. Hospital officials within the Gaza Strip narrated these incidents to The Associated Press. Furthermore, two American aid workers, part of the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), sustained injuries during an assault at a food distribution site, which the GHF attributed to Hamas—though they did not provide supporting evidence for this claim.
Amid the ongoing crisis, many weary Palestinians voiced cautious hope following Hamas's late Friday response to a recent U.S. proposal for a 60-day truce, indicating a willingness to negotiate further on implementation. Jamalat Wadi, a displaced person residing in Deir al-Balah, expressed her exhaustion, remarking, "We are tired. Enough starvation, enough closure of crossing points. We want to sleep in calm where we don’t hear warplanes or drones or shelling," reflecting the sentiments of countless others affected by the ongoing hostilities.
Hamas has been pushing for assurances that the initial ceasefire will culminate in a complete cessation of the war and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Past negotiations have frequently stalled over Hamas's insistence on guarantees that future discussions would ultimately end the conflict, while Netanyahu has maintained that Israel will resume military action to ensure Hamas's destruction.
On the ground, Israeli airstrikes targeted tents in the Muwasi area near Gaza's coast, leading to the deaths of seven individuals, including a Palestinian doctor and his three children. In addition, four others were killed in Bani Suheila, and three more succumbed to injuries in Khan Younis. The Israeli army has not commented on these incidents.
Separate incidents resulted in eight Palestinians being killed near a GHF aid distribution site in Rafah. Reports varied on the location of these fatalities concerning the GHF sites, with the organization denying any involvement, asserting that no incidents occurred at its locations, which are secured by private contractors and accessible only after passing Israeli military checkpoints.
Amidst the chaos, the GHF reported that two American aid workers were injured when assailants threw grenades at a distribution site in Khan Younis on Saturday morning. The GHF officials claimed these injuries were not life-threatening, and Israel's military subsequently evacuated the aid workers for medical assistance.
The GHF, designed to operate outside of U.N. oversight, has faced criticism from humanitarian groups, asserting that it permits Israel to weaponize food aid and violates humanitarian principles. Israel contends that Hamas diverts funds intended for U.N.-distributed aid, contrary to U.N. claims. Hamas has called on Palestinians to resist cooperating with the GHF, further complicating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
As humanitarian needs escalate, a significant part of Gaza's population, exceeding 2 million, now relies heavily on international aid. The ongoing conflict has devastated agricultural systems, resulting in formidable food shortages and pervasive poverty. Crowds of Palestinians often await aid trucks, with reports indicating some have looted supplies before reaching designated distribution points under Israeli military surveillance.
As of October 7, 2023, the war's onset, initiated by Hamas's attack on Israel, has resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli casualties and 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel's offensive has reportedly caused over 57,000 Palestinian deaths, including a high proportion of women and children, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry, which is linked to the Hamas administration. The U.N. and other entities consider these figures the most reliable statistics amidst the devastation.
