GAZA CITY: Relentless Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip killed nearly 100 Palestinians overnight, and the attacks continued on Sunday in the besieged territory’s south. Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza, is currently reviewing a proposed truce aimed at halting the nearly four-month-long war.
Overnight Israeli strikes resulted in at least 92 casualties, according to the health ministry in the territory. The attacks continued on Sunday, primarily targeting southern Gaza’s main city, Khan Younis, and extending to Rafah, a border city housing displaced Palestinians. Israel has issued warnings about potential ground forces advancing on Rafah, where large numbers of displaced Palestinians seek refuge in makeshift camps.
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne initiated his Middle East trip to push for a ceasefire and hostage release. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to join the efforts in the coming days.
International Mediators Finalizing Proposed Gaza Truce Deal
International mediators are working to finalize a proposed truce deal, negotiated in a Paris meeting involving top US, Israeli, Egyptian, and Qatari officials. However, Hamas officials, including Osama Hamdan in Lebanon, have indicated that some details in the proposed framework are still missing. The group requires more time to announce its position.
The proposed truce reportedly includes an initial six-week pause for the delivery of aid into Gaza and exchanges of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Since October 7, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in an unprecedented death toll, with at least 27,365 people killed in Gaza, mostly women and children. Rafah, which once housed 200,000 people, now hosts more than half of Gaza’s population, contributing to a dire humanitarian situation.
Critics and rights groups have raised concerns over Israeli forces systematically destroying buildings near the border, potentially creating a buffer zone within Palestinian territory. Nadia Hardman from Human Rights Watch maintained that such actions may amount to a war crime.
Protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict have emerged, with criticism focused on the security failures surrounding the attack on Israel on October 7.
As Israel continued relentless bombardment in Gaza, regional tensions escalated, with resistance groups launching attacks in solidarity with Gaza. Meanwhile, the United States and Britain have struck dozens of targets in Yemen in response to attacks on shipping by the Houthi group.
