Israeli forces killed at least 71 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in Cairo without notable progress.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers advanced on the central city of Deir el-Balah, displacing over 100,000 residents within two days. The talks, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, sought to bridge gaps between the two sides and end the ongoing violence. Despite hours of discussions, no breakthroughs were achieved, particularly on Israel’s demand to retain eight positions along the Philadelphi Corridor.
In addition to the violence in Gaza, clashes were reported in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli forces raiding the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, resulting in a response from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, with increased malnutrition and the re-emergence of polio. Palestinian health authorities reported that Israeli military strikes on Saturday killed at least 50 people, with many casualties trapped under rubble or lying on roads. The ongoing siege has severely restricted food aid, leading to a rise in acute malnutrition among children.
The World Health Organization confirmed a new case of polio in Gaza, the first in 25 years, raising fears of a broader outbreak due to inadequate sanitation in the war-torn area.
Negotiations remain stalled, with Hamas accusing Israel of backtracking on agreements and the United States of not mediating in good faith. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces internal disagreements over whether to maintain military positions along the Gaza-Egypt border.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials, and the situation is exacerbated by the potential for further escalations, including Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and increased tensions with Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
