As mediators continue efforts for a ceasefire, Israel expands its offensive in Gaza
Due to the heavy bombardment of Israel, thousands of people in central Gaza died as US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators are arguing for talks on a proposed ceasefire and captive release deal.
As the Israeli military intensifies its offensive in Gaza, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire persist, highlighting the precarious balance between military operations and humanitarian concerns. Seeing this, the Israeli army said: “Troops have started targeted operational activity in the areas of Bureij and eastern Deir el-Balah, both above and below ground”.
A medical source said on Wednesday that at least 75 people were killed by Israeli attacks on central Gaza over the past day, and this conflict, now in its third week, has resulted in significant casualties and destruction, drawing international attention and prompting urgent calls for de-escalation.
Sources further said that the morgues in the central city of Deir el-Balah were packed while the local Al-Aqsa Hospital was working at three times its capacity, targeting what they describe as militant infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons storage facilities, and command centers.
In a statement, the Israeli army said it struck “terror targets” in the area, killing “several” members of the Palestinian group Hamas because these actions aim to neutralize threats from Hamas and other militant groups that have been launching rockets into Israel territory.
Almost eight months into Israel’s war on Gaza, global outrage has spiraled over the soaring death toll – exceeding 36,500 as the recent intensification marks a significant escalation, with increased airstrikes and ground incursions and the destruction in the besieged and bombarded territory causing widespread damage across the densely populated Gaza Strip where United Nations data suggests more than half of all buildings are destroyed or damaged.
On May 31, US President Joe Biden outlined what he called a three-phase Israeli plan because Hamas has continued to launch rockets into southern and central Israel, resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure and to halt the fighting for six weeks while Israeli captives held in Gaza are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and aid is stepped up in the first phase.
Regional and international powers have backed the proposal, as civilians on both sides bear the brunt of the conflict. However, sticking points remain – Hamas insists on a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal, demands Israel has rejected with the death toll rising and thousands displaced from their homes.
A source with knowledge of the talks said that Burns would “continue working with mediators on reaching an agreement between Hamas and Israel on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages exacerbated by the ongoing blockade and the destruction caused by the current military operations”.
Egypt’s state-linked Al-Qahera News said an “Egyptian security delegation will meet with its Qatari and US counterparts in Doha on Wednesday to discuss the mechanism of restoring the truce talks and United Nations and various non-governmental organizations have reported severe shortages of medical supplies, food, and clean water.”
