WASHINGTON:
US President Joe Biden urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza and secure the release of hostages, according to the White House. That call came after reports that Israeli airstrikes had killed at least 50 Palestinians in 24 hours, underscoring the devastating civilian toll of the ongoing conflict.
Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, stressed the importance of finalizing the ceasefire and hostage agreement during the conversation. The White House statement said Biden also discussed upcoming talks in Cairo aimed at removing any remaining obstacles to achieving peace. Negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt and Qatar are due to meet in Cairo to try to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas. Despite these efforts, both sides remain steadfast in their demands.
Netanyahu’s office reiterated Israel’s determination to achieve its war goals, including ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel’s security. Central to Israel’s demands is maintaining military control of the Philadelphia Corridor, the border area between Gaza and Egypt, a key point of contention in the negotiations. Netanyahu dismissed Israeli television reports that claimed Israel had agreed to relinquish control of the runway, with his office issuing a statement to correct the narrative.
Meanwhile, Hamas has maintained its position in the negotiations. After talks with Palestinian Islamic Jihad leaders, Hamas officials reiterated their terms: an end to Israel’s military operation in Gaza, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and a prisoner exchange deal. Hamas is seeking the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel in exchange for Israeli hostages.
The talks between Biden and Netanyahu followed US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s recent visit to the region. However, Blinken’s diplomatic efforts ended without any significant progress towards ending the 10-month conflict. The ongoing violence has only worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In the latest developments, Israeli warplanes targeted around 30 locations across Gaza, including tunnels, launch sites and observatories. Israeli forces claimed to have killed dozens of armed militants and seized various weapons, including explosives and automatic rifles. However, these strikes also resulted in civilian casualties.
One particular incident in Gaza City saw Israeli forces strike a school and a nearby house, killing at least four people and injuring 15 others, including children. Gaza’s Civil Emergency Management Agency said the attack took place near a UN-run school where Hamas fighters were allegedly operating from a command center. The Israeli military has accused Hamas of using civilian structures as shields, a claim the militant group has repeatedly denied.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), condemned the school strike, expressing deep concern at the growing number of child casualties in Gaza. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he said children were killed, some even burned to death, during the attack. He further emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, describing the situation as unbearable for the children of Gaza.
In another incident, an Israeli airstrike in the southern town of Bani Suhaila near Khan Younis killed seven Palestinians in a tent camp for displaced people, further escalating the humanitarian crisis in the area.
Amid the ongoing conflict, the Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of civilians from the central Gaza Strip of Deir Al-Balah, an area that has become a hotspot for fighting. However, as soon as the evacuation orders were issued, Israeli tanks opened fire, killing one person and injuring others. Medics reported that several civilians were injured by machine gun fire.
According to Palestinian health authorities, more than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Israeli military campaign in October.
The war, which began on October 7, was sparked by Hamas militants who launched an attack on Israeli communities and military bases, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, the conflict has intensified, with both sides suffering heavy casualties.
In Deir Al-Balah, the situation for displaced Palestinians is dire. Many were forced to move multiple times, seeking refuge from the violence. Aburakan, a 55-year-old resident who has moved five times since October, expressed despair at the lack of a ceasefire, stating, “Unfortunately, we may die before we see the end of this war. All talk of a ceasefire is a lie. “
Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced several times during the conflict. Even in designated safe zones, Israeli strikes continued to claim casualties, leaving many Palestinians in constant fear for their lives.
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