An Israeli air strike killed three Palestinian men in Gaza as ceasefire talks stall. Another strike later killed a father and son, raising the day’s death toll to five. The humanitarian situation deteriorates due to a ban on goods entering Gaza, as military tensions continue between Israel and Hamas amid negotiations for a ceasefire.
On Monday, an Israeli air strike tragically resulted in the loss of three Palestinian lives in Gaza, medics reported. The victims, all related and from central Gaza, were gathering firewood, a routine task for many Gazans due to ongoing restrictions on food, fuel, and medical supplies imposed by Israel for over two weeks.
The Israeli military defended the strike by claiming it targeted “terrorists” attempting to plant a bomb near their operations. As the day progressed, another air strike led to the deaths of a father and son seeking refuge in a school sheltering displaced families, raising the death toll to five for that day.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of Hamas-run Gaza government media, cautioned that these actions by Israel could jeopardize efforts aimed at de-escalation, highlighting that at least 150 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was established in January.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by Israel’s 16-day suspension of goods entering Gaza, intensifying pressure on the 2.3 million residents, most of whom are homeless due to the conflict. With bakeries closing and food prices escalating, along with electricity cuts that threaten clean water access, the situation is dire.
Amid discussions to extend the current ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, tensions mount as Hamas insists on resuming hostage releases only under upcoming phases of the agreement, while Israel claims Hamas is attempting to sabotage the negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that negotiators are prepared to continue discussions based on a U.S. proposal concerning the release of hostages. The conflict reignited on October 7, 2023, following a cross-border raid by Hamas and has since resulted in significant casualties and destruction within Gaza.
In summary, the recent air strikes in Gaza have resulted in tragic loss of life amidst a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas. The ongoing humanitarian crisis continues to worsen due to restrictions on essential goods, raising concern over the stability of ceasefire negotiations. It is imperative that all parties focus on de-escalation and humanitarian relief to prevent further suffering for the affected populations.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
