GAZA CITY: Hamas said on Thursday that negotiations with mediators were ongoing to halt Israel’s resumption of offensive on Gaza, as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 70 Palestinians and wounded dozens more, according to local health officials.
The latest escalation follows the collapse of a ceasefire agreement that had broadly held since January.
According to Reuters, Hamas reiterated its commitment to the deal and urged mediators to pressure Israel into abiding by its terms.
“In the past hour, we have witnessed a very brutal escalation of airstrikes on the southern part of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah,” a Hamas spokesperson said.
Medics confirmed that at least 10 residential buildings had been destroyed in the strikes.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that since Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes have killed 510 Palestinians, more than half of whom were women and children.
Israel resumes ground operations
On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced it had resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that the campaign was part of a “focused” manoeuvre to extend Israeli control over the Netzarim Corridor, a strategic area that effectively divides the enclave.
Hamas condemned the renewed offensive as a “new and dangerous violation” of the ceasefire agreement and urged international mediators to intervene.
A Hamas official said, cited by Reuters, that discussions between mediators and the warring sides had intensified but that “no breakthrough has yet been made.”
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 49,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, with large parts of the enclave reduced to rubble.
Palestine seeks international intervention
Palestine’s Mission to the United Nations issued a statement on Thursday urging the international community to act swiftly to halt Israel’s offensive.
“This ruthless, unlawful use of force against a defenceless civilian population must be halted immediately,” the statement read.
The mission accused Israel of committing “blatant war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide,” adding that failure to act would further erode the credibility of the UN Security Council.
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking after a call with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, condemned the resumption of Israeli strikes.
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Macron announced plans to co-chair a conference on a two-state solution, which he said would help “revive a political perspective for both Israelis and Palestinians.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also discussed the situation in Gaza with senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya, a Turkish foreign ministry source told Reuters.
US and Red Cross raise concerns
A US State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday that a proposal remained on the table for an extended ceasefire, but the opportunity was “closing fast.”
The proposal reportedly includes the release of five hostages, including American citizen Edan Alexander, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that Gaza’s medical system was near collapse due to the sharp increase in casualties.
“Due to the recent suspension of humanitarian aid into Gaza, stocks of medical supplies have dropped significantly, and hospital staff are struggling to manage the sharp increase in casualties,” the ICRC said in a statement.
A Bulgarian national working for the United Nations was killed in Gaza on Wednesday, according to Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry.
The ministry said it was awaiting further details on the circumstances of the worker’s death.
Israel’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Yosef Levi Sfari, expressed sorrow over the incident but stated that initial investigations found “no connection to IDF activity.”
