Over the weekend, Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian freedom fighters across the Gaza Strip, as both sides reported on Sunday. Mediating countries sought common ground for a possible ceasefire to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
During the ongoing war with Israel, almost 30,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, with entire towns leveled and Palestinian civilians subjected to brutal bombings by the settler-colonial state.
Also Read: Israel’s Gaza invasion Day 126: Gaza death toll nears 28,000
Prospects for securing a truce appeared uncertain, with Israel indicating plans to expand its efforts to eliminate Hamas while the resistance faction stood firm on its demand for a permanent end to the nearly five-month-old conflict.
According to residents, Israeli forces shelled several areas of the enclave, and tanks entered Beit Lahiya, while soldiers and gunmen engaged in running battles in the Zeitoun sector of Gaza City, both in the north where the offensive began.
Medics reported that at least 86 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday. Israel’s military stated that two soldiers died in fighting in southern Gaza and that they had killed or captured several Palestinian gunmen in Zeitoun and elsewhere.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his war cabinet for a briefing by intelligence chiefs who had met with Qatari, Egyptian, and US mediators in Paris to discuss a possible second Gaza ceasefire.
Reports from Israeli media, citing unnamed officials, suggested a framework for the return of around a third of the 130 captives still in Gaza over a six-week truce during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan. However, there was no formal confirmation from either side.
Palestinian officials indicated that Hamas insisted on Israel halting the offensive and withdrawing forces as part of any deal. Meanwhile, Israel signaled its intent to move into one of the last towns where Hamas retains intact forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu mentioned plans to approve military actions for Rafah, a town near the border with Egypt, including the evacuation of over a million displaced Palestinian civilians who have sought shelter there. Their fate is a matter of concern for world powers.
