CAIRO. Israel has escalated its military campaign against Hamas in central Gaza, with airstrikes killing dozens of people, as U.S. and Qatari mediators work to finalize a ceasefire deal.
Palestinian medics reported that since Tuesday, at least 44 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on central Gaza. The conflict has intensified, with the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad engaging in gun battles with Israeli forces across the enclave and launching anti-tank rockets and shells.
“The sounds of bombardment didn’t stop all night,” said Aya, a 30-year-old displaced woman in Deir Al-Balah. Among the dead were two children and their mother, unable to evacuate when others in the neighborhood fled. “This is not war, it is destruction that words are unable to express,” said their father, Abu Mohammed Abu Saif.
The Israeli military stated that its jets were targeting Hamas militants in central Gaza, with ground forces operating “in a focused manner with guidance from intelligence” in the Al-Bureij area, a longstanding refugee settlement. “The forces of the 98th Division began a precise campaign in the areas of East Bureij and East Deir al-Balah, above and below ground at the same time,” an Israeli military statement said.
Residents reported that Israeli forces had deployed tanks in Bureij and were shelling nearby settlements, including Al-Maghazi and Al-Nuseirat, and Deir Al-Balah city. “Every time they speak about new truce talks, the occupation uses one town or refugee camp as a pressuring card. Why should civilians, people safe inside their homes or tents, pay the price? Why can’t Arabs and the world stop the war?” Aya told Reuters via a chat app.
CIA Director Burns Discusses Ceasefire in Doha
Amid ongoing violence, hopes remain pinned on diplomatic efforts. CIA Director William Burns met with Qatar’s Prime Minister in Doha to discuss ceasefire terms. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that the U.S. is awaiting a response from Hamas via Qatari mediators to a ceasefire proposal announced by President Joe Biden last Friday. Qatar reported that the proposal has been refined to be more acceptable to both parties.
Hamas responded positively to the proposal but criticized the U.S. for blaming the Palestinian militant group for delays. A Hamas spokesperson reiterated that any agreement must include a “clear” commitment from Israel to a permanent truce and complete withdrawal from Gaza, a demand Israel has refused until Hamas is eradicated.
U.S. officials suggest Israel is likely to accept the proposal since it originated from them. However, Qatar stressed that Israel needs to present a unified stance, as some factions within the Israeli government oppose any form of truce.
Continued Fighting and Humanitarian Impact
In parallel, the Hamas-allied Islamic Jihad group sent a delegation to Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators to end the “Zionist aggression on Gaza Strip and efforts to send aid.” Fighting continued in Rafah, near the Egyptian border, with Israeli forces conducting limited operations to eliminate Hamas combat units.
“The forces found combat means and eliminated armed saboteurs who operated nearby and posed a threat,” said an Israeli military statement. Despite the violence, most of the million people who had taken refuge in Rafah have fled once more.
The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) reiterated calls for a ceasefire, emphasizing the war’s lasting impact on Gaza’s environment. “The war in #Gaza has upended millions of Palestinian lives & caused catastrophic damage to the natural environment that they depend upon for water, clean air, food & livelihoods. Restoring environmental services will take decades – & cannot even start until a #ceasefire,” it stated on social media.
Since the conflict began last October, following a Hamas incursion into southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and led to over 250 hostages, Israel’s military campaign has resulted in over 36,000 deaths in Gaza, according to local health authorities. Thousands more are believed to be buried under rubble. About 120 hostages remain in Gaza.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
