The ceasefire in Gaza faced a significant challenge on Sunday as Israeli forces conducted a series of strikes in response to the deaths of two soldiers, reportedly at the hands of Hamas militants. This escalation occurred just over a week after the U.S.-proposed ceasefire aimed to end two years of conflict. An Israeli security official indicated that aid transfers to Gaza were temporarily halted but confirmed that deliveries would resume on Monday.
According to health officials, at least 36 Palestinians were killed across Gaza during the latest round of violence, which included airstrikes targeting numerous Hamas positions. The Israeli military stated these operations were a direct response to fire directed at Israeli troops stationed in areas of Rafah, which are designated as Israeli-controlled under agreed ceasefire lines.
Ongoing Negotiations and Humanitarian Concerns
The situation remains tense, with a senior Egyptian official involved in the ceasefire negotiations reporting that “round-the-clock” efforts were underway to de-escalate the violence. This official spoke on condition of anonymity due to their lack of authorization to speak publicly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to take “strong action” against any violations of the ceasefire, although he refrained from threatening a return to full-scale war.
In the midst of this turmoil, residents of Gaza expressed deep fears of a return to widespread conflict. “It will be a nightmare,” lamented Mahmoud Hashim, a father of five from Gaza City, as he urged international mediators, including U.S. President Donald Trump, to intervene. The Al-Awda hospital reported receiving numerous casualties from the strikes, including 24 bodies from various locations in central Gaza.
Among the casualties, a strike on a makeshift coffeehouse in Zawaida town resulted in the deaths of at least six Palestinians. Other airstrikes in Beit Lahiya and Khan Younis also caused fatalities, including women and children. Consequently, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with hospitals struggling to accommodate the influx of wounded individuals.
Hostage Situation and Future Governance
As violence escalated, Israel identified the remains of two hostages released by Hamas, believed to have been killed during the initial attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the ongoing conflict. The families of the deceased hostages have been informed, with the remains of additional hostages also being transferred back to Israel. In total, Hamas has returned the remains of 12 hostages over the past week.
Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, indicated they would return another body if conditions permitted. However, Israel has expressed frustration over Hamas’s failure to return all 28 deceased hostages, asserting that the Rafah border crossing, the only crossing not controlled by Israel prior to the war, would remain closed “until further notice.”
In a complex exchange, Israel has released 150 bodies of Palestinians back to Gaza, with the Health Ministry in Gaza stating that only 25 of these bodies have been identified. Many remain unrecognizable due to the conditions in which they were found, complicating the efforts of families searching for missing loved ones.
In terms of governance, a Hamas delegation led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire deal with various mediators and Palestinian groups. Future discussions are expected to center on disarming Hamas, the potential withdrawal of Israeli forces from additional areas, and the establishment of a governing body for Gaza.
The U.S. plan proposes creating an internationally backed authority to oversee Gaza’s administration post-conflict. Despite ongoing negotiations, Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassem has emphasized that the group will not participate in any ruling authority and is advocating for the establishment of a body of Palestinian technocrats to manage daily affairs, given the urgent need for governance in the region.
As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, the toll on human life remains staggering, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 68,000 Palestinian deaths, a figure that includes both civilians and combatants. This statistic is viewed as credible by various UN agencies and independent experts, despite Israel disputing the numbers without providing its own count. Thousands more remain missing, according to the Red Cross.
The situation in Gaza is precarious, with the potential for further escalations looming as both sides navigate the complexities of ceasefire negotiations and humanitarian needs.
