GAZA — At least 81 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air and ground attacks across Gaza on Monday, with 53 deaths reported in Gaza City alone. The spike in violence comes as ceasefire negotiations appear increasingly muddled, despite claims from Hamas that it has accepted a US-backed truce proposal.
The humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave has reached new depths of crisis. Hospitals, already overwhelmed by mass casualties, are operating on near-empty shelves. The controversial US-backed aid group for Gaza, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), confirmed it had begun distributing food in the war-ravaged territory.
In Cairo, an Egyptian official told local media that intensive efforts are ongoing to bridge gaps between the parties. Despite signals of a possible breakthrough, clarity remains elusive. A Hamas source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed the group had agreed to a proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff. That plan reportedly includes a 70-day truce, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of ten Israeli hostages in two groups, and a swap for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including many serving life sentences.
However, Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have backtracked on earlier suggestions of an imminent deal. On Monday evening, Netanyahu’s office clarified that his earlier comments about a possible announcement “today or tomorrow” were not meant to indicate a definitive timeline.
Israel’s military campaign has already killed over 61,700, including thousands believed to be buried under rubble.
C. The New Arab
