Hamas announced that its negotiators arrived in Cairo on Saturday to engage with mediators about the ongoing ceasefire talks, following worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where malnutrition has soared and polio has been detected.
Israeli military strikes killed 50 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, with victims either trapped under rubble or lying on roads amid the ongoing conflict. The previous day, Israeli military operations resulted in the deaths of three reserve officers, including two major generals and a lieutenant colonel, bringing the total number of Israeli military casualties in Gaza since the ground offensive began on October 27 to 338.
Negotiations in Cairo, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, have yet to achieve a breakthrough. Key issues include Israel’s insistence on retaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along the Gaza-Egypt border, which Hamas argues undermines previous agreements. Hamas has also accused the United States of not mediating in good faith.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains firm on retaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor and the Netzarim Corridor, crucial for preventing the movement of Hamas fighters. Despite internal pressure for concessions, Netanyahu has reportedly criticized his negotiating team for being too accommodating and has emphasized his aim for “total victory over Hamas.”
US Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began an unannounced visit to the Middle East to discuss preventing further escalation of tensions.
The conflict has severely impacted Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with widespread homelessness, malnutrition, and disease. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a significant drop in food aid and a sharp rise in acute malnutrition among children. The World Health Organization confirmed a new polio case, the first in Gaza in 25 years, amid deteriorating sanitation conditions.
Fears of further escalation are heightened by potential Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and increasing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, including Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel.
