More Than 70 Palestinians Killed In Gaza As Ceasefire Negotiations Take Shape

Twenty-two Palestinians were killed betwixt Friday, July 4, and Saturday, July 5, successful Muwasi, a densely populated area successful confederate Gaza that has go a colony for displaced residents. On Sunday, July 6, nan decease toll successful Muwasi climbed to 40, aft an further 18 Palestinians were killed successful Israeli airstrikes.

Coupled pinch nan 7 others who were killed betwixt nan confederate metropolis of Bani Suheila and Khan Younis, arsenic good arsenic those who person died while attempting to get nutrient and different assistance aliases were killed during strikes successful different parts of Gaza, nan Palestinian decease toll successful nan enclave surpassed 70 successful small much than 48 hours.

All of this comes arsenic Israel and Hamas sent delegations to Qatar for indirect talks connected ceasefire negotiations Sunday, guided by a U.S.-backed 60-day ceasefire proposal. The agency of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his authorities had agreed to participate successful nan talks, contempt uncovering Hamas’ demands and amendments to nan connection “unacceptable.”

Weekend decease toll continues to climb

On Sunday, July 6, Israel claimed it struck 130 targets crossed Gaza successful a 24-hour period, including immoderate of Hamas’ infrastructure, weapons, launchers and a “number of militants,” according to nan AP. Shifa Hospital successful Gaza City besides said an Israeli onslaught deed 2 houses successful nan region, sidesplitting 20 Palestinians and wounding 25 others. However, nan Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not remark connected those strikes.

Another 18 were killed during Israeli strikes successful Muwasi, an area that saw upwards of 40 deaths complete nan weekend. Muwasi has go a densely populated colony of tents, lodging Gaza residents who person been displaced since nan commencement of nan warfare astir 2 years ago.

The BBC reported that nan Gaza Health Ministry, which does not separate betwixt civilian and combatant deaths, said 80 group killed successful Israeli strikes had been brought to nan region’s hospitals complete nan past 24 hours.

Ceasefire negotiations return shape

The continuing strikes travel arsenic Israel and Hamas hole to talk nan position of a ceasefire, arsenic negotiators from some governments made their measurement to Qatar for indirect talks Sunday alongside mediators from nan U.S., Egypt and Qatar. U.S. President Donald Trump is besides group to meet pinch Netanyahu astatine nan White House connected Monday, July 7.

Trump has outlined a 60-day ceasefire connection that would pave nan measurement for Hamas to merchandise much of nan hostages it’s held since launching a astonishment onslaught connected Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, efficaciously kickstarting nan existent war. Meanwhile, Israel would beryllium expected to let much humanitarian assistance into Gaza during nan ceasefire timeframe and retreat troops from an agreed-upon location successful bluish Gaza.

An anonymous Israeli charismatic besides told nan AP that nan government’s information Cabinet approved a scheme to nonstop assistance into bluish Gaza, arsenic overmuch of nan region faces impending famine.   

Late Friday, Hamas said it had delivered a “positive” consequence to nan U.S. proposal. In a connection published by nan Islamic Republic News Agency, Hamas said, “The activity has delivered its consequence to nan brotherly mediators, which was characterized by a affirmative spirit. Hamas is afloat prepared, pinch each seriousness, to instantly participate a caller information of negotiations connected nan system for implementing this framework.” 

Netanyahu’s agency said precocious Saturday that Hamas’ demands were “unacceptable,” but added, “In ray of an appraisal of nan situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed that nan invitation to proximity talks beryllium accepted and that nan contacts for nan return of our hostages — connected nan ground of nan Qatari connection that Israel has agreed to — beryllium continued. The negotiating squad will time off tomorrow.”

Previous attempts autumn apart

The 2 sides person been incapable to work together upon basal portions of a ceasefire, including Israel’s request that Hamas beryllium wholly dissolved and Hamas’ request that Israel wholly retreat from Gaza. Hamas is besides looking for information guarantees that won’t let Israel to restart its operations aft nan 60-day ceasefire ends.

Israel abandoned a erstwhile ceasefire backmost successful March, aft it launched “extensive airstrikes” that killed much than 320 group and declared a “massive offensive.”

Since then, nan 2 sides person either agreed to aliases amended consequent proposals, but person not yet signed one.

The warfare began aft nan Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led onslaught connected confederate Israel, which killed astir 1,200 people. Israel’s subject run has since killed complete 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israeli airstrikes and crushed operations person displaced astir 90% of Gaza’s population, while famine conditions persist crossed galore areas.