In Gaza City, Israeli forces killed at least 71 Palestinians on Saturday as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas continued in Cairo, though no significant progress was reported. Tanks and bulldozers advanced on Deir el-Balah, prompting over 100,000 people to flee within two days.
The negotiations in Cairo, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, aimed to resolve the ongoing violence. A Hamas delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya was present, but no breakthroughs were achieved. Israel’s insistence on maintaining eight positions along the Philadelphi Corridor, the border area with Egypt, remained a major sticking point.
Clashes also erupted in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces raided the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, leading to a response from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with rising malnutrition and a newly confirmed case of polio, the first in 25 years. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that food aid levels were among the lowest since the siege began, leading to a sharp rise in acute malnutrition among children.
Negotiations have been complicated by accusations from Hamas that Israel has not honored previous agreements and by claims of insufficient mediation by the United States. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces internal disagreement over whether Israeli forces should remain at the Gaza-Egypt border, a critical area for Israeli security.
The conflict’s impact on Gaza’s 2.3 million residents is severe, with over 40,000 Palestinian deaths reported. The situation is exacerbated by the Israeli siege and ongoing violence.
Amid rising tensions, US Air Force General C.Q. Brown made an unannounced visit to the Middle East to help prevent further escalation. Tensions with Iranian-backed Hezbollah have also increased, with Israeli airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon and Hezbollah launching rocket fire into northern Israel.
