On Monday, Israel launched some of the most intense strikes on Gaza in recent weeks, killing at least 60 people, including women, children, and a journalist. These attacks coincided with a renewed push by the United States, led by President Donald Trump, to broker a ceasefire deal.
Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close ally of Prime Minister Netanyahu, traveled to Washington to discuss ceasefire efforts and regional issues like Iran. Despite these diplomatic moves, the reality on the ground remained dire, with no visible sign of a de-escalation in Gaza.
Mass Displacement and Civilian Deaths Mount Amid Intensified Israeli Strikes Across Northern Gaza
The Israeli military issued new evacuation orders to large areas of northern Gaza, sparking another wave of mass displacement. Reports from Gaza City described relentless bombings, including on homes and schools, with civilians caught in the chaos.
Eyewitnesses expressed frustration over the disparity between political rhetoric and on-the-ground devastation. Israeli tanks advanced into the Zeitoun suburb, and airstrikes reportedly targeted shelters, including schools, causing high civilian casualties.
Among the dead were 22 individuals killed in an Israeli airstrike on a beachfront café in Gaza City. This included women, children, and a journalist, adding to the growing list of media personnel killed since the war began in October 2023, now totaling over 220.
While the Israeli military claimed to be targeting Hamas command centers and taking measures to minimize civilian harm, the strikes’ impact suggested otherwise. The bombardments were part of a broader campaign in northern Gaza, an area already devastated by previous military operations.
Diplomatic Deadlock Persists Amid Ceasefire Push and Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Alongside discussions on a potential ceasefire, Israeli officials are also exploring the possibility of a visit by Netanyahu to the White House. Meanwhile, efforts by Qatar and Egypt to mediate a new truce have yet to result in tangible progress.
Hamas insists that any agreement must include a complete end to the war and Israeli withdrawal, while Israel maintains that the war can only end when Hamas is dismantled. This fundamental disagreement continues to block progress despite international pressure.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has prompted warnings from international allies. Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger emphasized the unbearable civilian suffering and urged for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian aid. The U.S. has proposed a 60-day ceasefire in exchange for the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
The war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 hostages taken, has since led to over 56,000 Palestinian deaths, widespread displacement, and a near-total militarization of Gaza, according to the U.N.
