The World Health Organisation confirmed the case, highlighting the catastrophic impact of the ongoing conflict on public health
GAZA: Israeli forces intensified their offensive in Gaza on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least 71 Palestinians, as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in Cairo without significant progress. The renewed assault, marked by the advance of tanks and bulldozers on the central city of Deir el-Balah, has forced over 100,000 residents to flee within just two days.
The Cairo talks, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, aimed to reach a compromise to halt the ongoing violence in Gaza. A Hamas delegation, led by senior official Khalil Al-Hayya, arrived in Egypt to engage closely in the discussions. However, despite extended talks, the negotiations yielded no breakthroughs. A Palestinian official involved in the mediation process revealed that Israel remains resolute in its demand to maintain eight positions along the Philadelphi Corridor, the border area between Gaza and Egypt.
The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly, with the humanitarian crisis worsening by the day. Palestinian health authorities reported that Israeli military strikes on Saturday alone resulted in at least 50 deaths, many of whom were trapped under rubble or left lying on the streets as fighting raged on. The Israeli siege, which has severely restricted food aid to Gaza, has led to alarming levels of acute malnutrition among children, as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The dire conditions have been exacerbated by the discovery of a new case of polio in Gaza, the first in 25 years, raising fears of a potential outbreak due to the poor sanitation in the densely populated and war-torn enclave. The World Health Organisation confirmed the case, highlighting the catastrophic impact of the ongoing conflict on public health.
Meanwhile, clashes have erupted in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces raided the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, arresting a young man. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for firing on Israeli soldiers during the raid, signaling a further escalation of violence in the region.
The central issue in the Cairo negotiations remains Israel’s insistence on retaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a demand that Hamas has vehemently opposed, accusing Israel of reneging on previous agreements. Hamas also accused the United States of failing to mediate in good faith, further complicating the prospects for a ceasefire.
- #GazaUnderAttack,
- #HumanitarianCrisis,
- #CeasefireNow,
- #SaveGaza,
- #StopTheViolence,
- #PalestinianLivesMatter,
- #EndTheSiege,
- #HealthUnderSiege,
- #PeaceForPalestine,
- #WarOnChildren,
