Israel initiated lethal aerial attacks in Gaza Strip as the war progressed into its tenth month on Sunday. The conflict continued to escalate throughout the Palestinian region alongside new diplomatic efforts aimed at ceasing the hostility. Israel announced its plans to delegate a team to carry on peace negotiations with Qatari mediators in the forthcoming days. These discussions originated recently in Doha.
Nevertheless, a representative for Binyamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, indicated the existing “gaps” with Hamas concerning the establishment of a ceasefire and the negotiation of a hostage release agreement, as reported by Agence France-Presse. The battle in Gaza persisted relentlessly, and according to Palestinian Red Crescent on Sunday, the remains of six individuals, inclusive of two children, who were casualties of Israeli attacks, were transported to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah.
Furthermore, medical experts reported that an Israeli strike on a house in the northern region of Gaza City resulted in the death of six individuals on Sunday. The previous day, the Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza reported the demise of 16 people due to an assault on a school managed by the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), which was providing refuge to displaced persons in Nuseirat, central Gaza.
The Israeli military reported that its planes had aimed at “terrorists” functioning near the al-Jawni school. On Sunday, protest marches commenced across the country, aimed at compelling the Israeli government to negotiate a hostage agreement with Hamas. Demonstrators blocked roads and picketed outside the homes of government ministers.
Beginning at 6.29am Israel time, the protests coincided with the timing of Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7th, as reported by Israeli media. Protesters formed blockade on major crossroads nationwide during the morning commute. They briefly ignited tyres on the main Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway prior to police clearance.
According to a high-ranking source in Hamas, the militant group approved the US proposal to commence negotiations regarding the release of Israeli captives, including soldiers and males, 16 days following the first phase of an accord aimed at concluding the Gaza war. The source added that Hamas decided to abandon its initial requirement for Israel to agree to a prolonged ceasefire before endorsing the agreement, allowing negotiations towards such a goal during the first six-week phase.
As of Saturday, the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported the death of 38,098 Palestinians, whilst 87,705 others were injured following Israel’s military assault on Gaza since October 7th as confirmed by various agencies.