Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken today in Washington, as reported by the State Department. This meeting comes as a deadline imposed by Washington to enhance the humanitarian situation in Gaza approaches.
The meeting is set for 5pm local time (10pm Irish time), according to the public schedule released by the department, which did not provide any further details.
Recent hopes for a ceasefire in Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza have been hindered, following Qatar’s announcement to suspend its mediation efforts in the negotiations. Separately, Israel mentioned today that there have been advancements in discussions regarding a ceasefire in its conflict in Lebanon.
On 13 October, the US government informed in a letter that Israel had 30 days to undertake specific measures to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel’s military actions over the past 13 months have displaced nearly the entire population, created a hunger crisis, and led to genocide allegations at the World Court, a charge that Israel denies.
Some analysts suggest that the Democratic administration under President Joe Biden may have lost sufficient leverage following Republican Donald Trump’s victory in the upcoming US presidential election, set to take place in January.
Palestinians are seen queuing for food at the Nuseirat refugee camp.
This update comes as at least 11 individuals were reported killed when Israeli forces sent tanks into the western part of Gaza’s Nuseirat camp, marking a fresh incursion into the central region of the territory.
Residents stated that Israeli tanks opened fire as they entered that area of the camp, which is one of Gaza’s eight historic refugee sites, inciting panic among the local population and displaced families.
One resident remarked that the advance of the tanks was entirely unexpected.
“Some people couldn’t escape and ended up trapped inside their homes, pleading to be allowed out, while others fled with whatever belongings they could carry,” the resident explained.
As the conflict in Gaza reaches its 14th month, Israel is concentrating its military operations in the north and center, claiming it is part of its mission to thwart Hamas militants from conducting attacks and to prevent their regrouping.
Tens of thousands of Palestinian residents have been urged to evacuate these areas, raising concerns that they may never be permitted to return.
The already slim prospects for a ceasefire diminished further over the weekend when mediator Qatar announced it would suspend its efforts until both Israel and Hamas demonstrated greater willingness to negotiate an agreement.
In overnight attacks carried out this morning, medics reported that seven individuals were killed in Nuseirat due to two separate Israeli airstrikes, one of which struck a tent encampment.
Meanwhile, in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, where Israeli operations have been ongoing since 5 October, medics reported that four people were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
At Kamal Adwan Hospital near Beit Lahiya, medics reported that three medical personnel were injured by Israeli drone fire aimed at the facility.
There has been no comment from Israeli officials regarding the recent violence.
The Israeli military announced the elimination of a senior commander of the Islamic Jihad group, an ally of Hamas, named Mohammad Abu Skhail, during a strike on Saturday targeting a command center that previously functioned as a school in Gaza City.
Palestinian medics claimed the attack resulted in the deaths of six individuals.
Hospitals are running low on food and medical supplies.
Israeli forces have besieged three hospitals in and around Jabalia for several weeks, with hospital officials resisting orders to evacuate the facilities or to leave their patients unattended, despite dire shortages of food, medical, and fuel supplies.
The Israeli military accuses Hamas of using Gaza’s civilian population for military ends, a claim that the militant group denies.
Israeli troops deployed tanks into Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and the Jabalia camp in northern Gaza over a month ago.
The military asserts that it has killed hundreds of militants in and around Jabalia since the onset of the raids.
The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad reported carrying out ambushes, mortar attacks, and anti-tank rocket strikes, claiming to have killed numerous Israeli soldiers in recent weeks.
Women and children are observed amid the destruction following an Israeli strike in Jabalia.
The Israeli military has declared that it has expanded the “humanitarian zone.”
Additionally, it stated that it would permit the entry of more tents, shelter materials, food, water, and medical supplies.
The military emphasized that its forces “will continue to work towards achieving the war’s objectives, which include dismantling Hamas and securing the return of all abducted individuals.”
Palestinian and United Nations officials contend that there are no safe zones within the territory, which is home to over 2.1 million people and now lies largely in ruins.
The conflict erupted on 7 October 2023 when Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 253 individuals, according to Israeli reports.
Israel’s military campaign has decimated much of Gaza and has reportedly resulted in the deaths of around 43,500 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
