US and Arab negotiators are tirelessly working to finalize a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Meanwhile, medical personnel in Gaza report that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 41 individuals.
The mediators, engaged in talks in Egypt and Qatar, aim to establish a temporary halt to Israel’s ongoing 14-month conflict in Gaza, which would involve the release of hostages taken from Israel along with the Palestinians detained by Israel.
Though mediators have made progress in addressing some previous contentious issues, significant differences still exist, the sources indicated.
In Gaza, medical sources reported that at least 13 individuals lost their lives overnight due to separate Israeli airstrikes, including attacks on two homes in Gaza City and a central refugee camp.
Hungry children in Gaza rush to receive a ration of bread in Khan Younis.
Israeli airstrikes also resulted in at least 15 fatalities in two shelters accommodating displaced families in the suburb of Tuffah in eastern Gaza City, according to medics, bringing today’s death count to 41.
The Israeli military stated it targeted Hamas militants operating within command and control facilities that had previously been used as the Al-Karama and Sha’ban Schools in Tuffah.
It asserted that Hamas was utilizing these facilities to plan and execute attacks against Israeli forces.
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza, where the military has been active since October, reported that forces detonated clusters of homes overnight.
“The longer these talks continue, the more destruction and loss of life we witness in Gaza. Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya are being devastated, along with Rafah,” expressed Adel, 60, a displaced resident of Jabalia now living in Gaza City.
A report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) indicated clear indications of ethnic cleansing in the Israeli offensive, with Palestinians facing forced displacement and bombardment.
“The evidence of ethnic cleansing and ongoing devastation—including mass casualties, severe physical and mental health impacts, forced displacement, and intolerable living conditions for Palestinians under siege—is irrefutable,” stated MSF head Christopher Lockyear in the report.
“Palestinians are dying in their homes and in hospital beds. People are struggling to find even the most essential items like food, clean water, medicines, and soap amid a brutal siege and blockade,” MSF noted.
There was no immediate response from Israel regarding the MSF report.
Israel accuses Hamas of using civilian infrastructure and the population as human shields, a claim that Hamas vigorously denies.
Phased or comprehensive?
Sources close to the mediation efforts mentioned that Hamas has advocated for a comprehensive deal, while Israel has preferred a phased approach.
The discussions currently center around an initial phase that includes the release of hostages, whether dead or alive, alongside a number of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
On Tuesday, both sides deliberated on the specifics of the numbers and categories of those to be released, but an agreement has yet to be reached, said a source who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
This source highlighted that one sticking point is Israel’s insistence on retaining the right to counter any potential military threats from Gaza, as well as the deployment of Israeli forces during phases of the agreement.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz asserted on Tuesday that Israel will maintain security oversight over Gaza with full operational freedom after defeating Hamas.
The air campaign and invasion of Gaza began after Hamas-led fighters attacked Israeli communities in October 2023, resulting in 1,200 fatalities and over 250 hostages taken back to Gaza, according to Israeli estimates.
Israel claims approximately 100 hostages are still in captivity, yet the exact number of those alive remains uncertain.
Israeli operations have resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, displacing the majority of the 2.3 million inhabitants and leaving large parts of the coastal region in ruins.
Human Rights Watch has stated that Israel’s actions, including the denial of clean water to thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, amount to acts of genocide and extermination.
In response, Israel’s foreign ministry accused the rights organization of fabricating claims, stating that Israel has continuously facilitated the flow of water and humanitarian aid into Gaza since the conflict commenced, despite ongoing attacks by Hamas.
