GAZA CITY: Hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Thursday continued to dwindle as Israeli forces intensified their bombardment campaign despite pressure from the United States on Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement.
The next round of talks, involving the United States, Egypt and Qatar, is set to take place this week in Cairo, but confirmation of these negotiations remains pending.
The ongoing Israeli bombardment campaign has led to devastating consequences for Gaza. The region has been ravaged by more than 10 months of relentless Israeli attacks, displacing nearly all its population and creating a dire humanitarian crisis.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday concluded his tour of the Middle East without securing a breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations. Following his visit, President Joe Biden personally urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a deal, emphasizing the urgency of finalizing both the ceasefire and a hostage release arrangement.
In a phone call between Biden and Netanyahu, the president stressed the need for an agreement and discussed upcoming talks in Cairo. Biden reassured Netanyahu of continued US support against threats from Iran and its allies. Vice President Kamala Harris also participated in the conversation.
However, Netanyahu, who leads a fragile right-wing coalition, has reportedly held firm on key issues. A major sticking point has been the presence of Israeli troops along the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area between Gaza and Egypt.
Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining a military presence in this area has been a significant obstacle in negotiations. According to reports, the US proposed a phased withdrawal of troops, but Netanyahu has resisted this plan.
Israeli media has reported that the chances of reaching a deal are slim, though efforts to hold talks in Cairo later this week are ongoing. US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk is in Cairo attempting to resolve the issues surrounding the Philadelphi Corridor.
Hamas has criticized the US proposal, accusing Netanyahu of obstructing the agreement by imposing new conditions. They have expressed a willingness to reach a ceasefire but have been frustrated by what they see as unyielding demands from Israel.
On the ground in Gaza, violence continues unabated. An Israeli airstrike on Wednesday targeted a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, killing at least three people and wounding ten children. According to the United Nations, Israeli attacks have damaged at least 23 schools housing displaced persons since early July.
Since October 7 last, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 40,265 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry. The UN rights office also reported that most dead are women and children.
The ongoing violence has also extended to the West Bank, where an Israeli strike on a house in the Tulkarem refugee camp killed three people on Thursday. In Gaza, heavy shelling and clashes continue in various areas, including Khan Younis and the Netzarim junction.
Regional tensions have escalated, with Hezbollah and other Iranian allies vowing retaliation for recent killings of high-profile leaders. This has heightened fears of a broader regional war.
China has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon “as soon as possible,” reflecting the growing international concern over the potential for wider unrest.
