Israeli military operations resulted in the deaths of at least 45 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, predominantly in the northern region, according to Palestinian health officials. This development came as renewed efforts for a ceasefire in the protracted conflict were underway in Qatar.
High-level discussions are set to occur in Doha, where the directors of the CIA and Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency will meet with Qatar’s prime minister, a source informed Reuters. The talks are intended to negotiate a temporary ceasefire and the potential release of hostages held by Hamas in return for the liberation of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The goal is to secure a brief cessation of hostilities, less than a month, which could pave the way for a more enduring ceasefire agreement.
Hamas has yet to comment publicly on the proposed discussions. However, a Palestinian official involved in the mediation expressed to Reuters that while Hamas might consider new offers, the group remains resolute that any agreement should terminate the conflict and prompt Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza.
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt are leading the negotiation efforts to conclude the war that began after Hamas fighters entered southern Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. The retaliatory campaign by Israel has led to a rising death toll in Gaza, which Gaza health officials say is nearing 43,000, leaving the enclave in devastation.
It remains unclear whether Egyptian officials are participating in the Sunday discussions. Of those killed on Sunday, at least 43 were in northern Gaza, an area where Israeli forces have returned to combat regrouped Hamas fighters.
Medics and the Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported that 20 individuals lost their lives following an airstrike on residential structures in Jabalia, the largest historical refugee camp in Gaza, which has been a target of Israeli military operations for over three weeks. An Israeli airstrike on a school in Shati camp, Gaza City, housing displaced Palestinian families, resulted in nine fatalities and 20 injuries, many of which were critical.
Footage disseminated on Palestinian media, which Reuters could not independently verify, depicted people hurriedly aiding in evacuation efforts, with bodies lying scattered and injured children being transported by vehicle. The Israeli military stated it is investigating the report regarding the school strike.
Among those killed at the Shati school were three local journalists: Saed Radwan, head of digital media at Hamas Al-Aqsa television, Hanin Baroud, and Hamza Abu Selmeya, according to Hamas media. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office termed their deaths as “assassinations,” noting that this brought the total number of Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli actions since October 7, 2023, to 180.
The Israeli military declared on Sunday that it had killed over 40 militants in the Jabalia area within the preceding 24 hours, dismantling infrastructure and discovering extensive military supplies. Israel also reported eliminating a militant cell in central Gaza.
Meanwhile, the fatality count from an Israeli airstrike on a residential zone in Beit Lahiya late Saturday rose to 40, according to WAFA. The Israeli military claimed it conducted a “precise strike using precise munitions” targeting Hamas fighters in Beit Lahiya, impacting several of them. It remarked that the casualty figures reported by WAFA were inconsistent with the nature of the munitions used in the precise attack.
According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli military actions in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza have claimed the lives of approximately 800 people over three weeks. Palestinian health officials stated that the continuous Israeli air and ground assault has severely damaged the healthcare system in northern Gaza, obstructing medical teams from accessing bombed areas. The Civil Emergency Service announced that its operations had ceased two days prior after Israel detained and injured several of its personnel and destroyed their only fire truck.