In Cairo, negotiators working towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are exploring new compromise proposals, as the UN reports worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. The discussions aim to address key issues in an ongoing conflict that has seen increasing casualties and deteriorating living conditions.
The latest reports indicate that Israeli military strikes in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 50 people over the past 48 hours. Palestinian health authorities have noted that victims remain either trapped under rubble or lying on roads where fighting continues. The humanitarian situation has further deteriorated, with widespread malnutrition and a recent outbreak of polio, the first in Gaza in 25 years.
A Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo to closely monitor the negotiations between Israel and the mediating countries Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The proposed compromises include securing key areas and facilitating the return of displaced individuals to northern Gaza. However, no significant progress has been made on contentious issues, such as Israel’s demand to maintain control of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border.
Hamas has accused Israel of reneging on previously agreed terms, a claim Israel denies. The group also alleges that the US is not mediating impartially. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly at odds with Israeli ceasefire negotiators over the necessity of maintaining military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border.
A Palestinian official familiar with the mediation efforts has indicated that it is too early to predict the outcome of the talks. The official suggested that Hamas is awaiting to see if there will be a shift in Netanyahu’s stance regarding a potential agreement.
The ongoing conflict has had devastating effects on Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, many of whom are living in temporary shelters amid the ruins of their homes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a significant drop in food aid and a sharp increase in acute malnutrition among children in northern Gaza. In the south, where fighting is less intense, malnutrition rates have more than doubled.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms about a polio case involving a 10-month-old baby, highlighting fears of a broader outbreak due to inadequate sanitation.
The conflict’s impact extends beyond Gaza, with increased tensions between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Recent clashes have seen Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon and Hezbollah rocket fire into northern Israel. US Air Force General CQ Brown has made an unannounced visit to the Middle East to discuss strategies to prevent further escalation amid fears of a broader conflict involving Iran.
The ongoing situation remains critical, with international efforts intensifying to address both the immediate humanitarian crisis and the broader geopolitical implications of the conflict.