DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Recent airstrikes in Gaza have further complicated U.S. efforts to broker a fragile ceasefire in the region. At least 10 people were reported killed on Wednesday in two separate airstrikes, following requests made by U.S. negotiators to Israel just two days prior, urging a reduction in military operations in the Gaza Strip. In addition to the strikes, Israeli troops reportedly crossed the ceasefire line in southern Gaza, detaining a Hamas police colonel, according to eyewitnesses and a Hamas official.
Israel's military stated that one of the Wednesday strikes targeted a Hamas commander involved in the deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. A second strike occurred in Gaza City's Tuffah area, aimed at a group of Hamas militants allegedly plotting to attack Israeli forces.
The previous day's military actions had already killed several Hamas commanders, including Muhammad Hamdi Ahmad Al-Masri and Muhammad Attar, who were accused of orchestrating assaults against Israeli troops. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry reported that the strike in Gaza City killed eight police officers and a 13-year-old girl, while another incident in Nuseirat led to one additional death. On Tuesday night, an Israeli strike on a seaside café had already killed seven Palestinians, including a child, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
Jared Kushner, U.S. negotiator and son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, held a lengthy meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging a de-escalation of strikes on Gaza. Despite these diplomatic efforts, the situation on the ground remains dire, with Israeli airstrikes continuing to cause significant casualties. Since a ceasefire began in October, Israeli strikes have reportedly killed at least 1,273 people in Gaza.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has spanned nearly three years, has resulted in over 73,400 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The Ministry, originating from the recently disbanded Hamas-led government, is recognized for maintaining comprehensive casualty records, although it does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths. The Ministry estimates that women and children comprise about half of the casualties.
In the early hours of Wednesday, Israeli forces made an incursion into the Muwasi coastal area near Khan Younis, detaining two individuals, including a Hamas police colonel. Eyewitness accounts highlighted the stepped-up military activity, causing increasing concern among local residents.
On the diplomatic front, efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire seem to be faltering. Trump's initial ceasefire plan aimed at dismantling Hamas's control over Gaza and initiating reconstruction efforts. However, ongoing disputes regarding the timing of Hamas's disarmament and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza have hindered progression. Following recent announcements, Hamas indicated that it would only begin disarmament if Israel ceased its military actions and pulled back from the territory, linking the disarmament of heavy weaponry to the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state, which Israeli officials have dismissed.
In light of these developments, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem criticized the Trump-established Board of Peace for providing a pretext for Israel to intensify its military operations rather than enforcing compliance with the ceasefire agreement.
