Israel has carried out airstrikes on dozens of Hamas targets in Gaza, killing more than 110 people in two days, according to Palestinian health authorities. The surge in operations and casualties comes as a renewed push for a ceasefire in the 15-month-old war and return of Israeli hostages gains momentum.
Israeli mediators have been dispatched to resume talks in Doha, brokered by Qatar and Egypt, while US President Joe Biden’s administration has urged Hamas to agree to a deal. However, little progress has been made on peace efforts, with fundamental disagreements over how to end the conflict remaining.
The Gaza health ministry reported 71 deaths on Thursday, including in Al-Mawasi, an area previously declared a humanitarian safe zone by Israeli authorities. The military said it had hit around 40 Hamas gathering points and command centers, taking measures to reduce civilian harm.
Hamas rejects accusations that it uses civilians as human shields, while the Israeli military claims to follow international law. Ceasefire efforts have stalled due to disagreements over how to end the conflict, with Hamas demanding a complete ceasefire and withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza.
The death toll in Gaza has risen to 45,658 according to the health ministry, while severe winter weather has caused hardship for hundreds of thousands sheltering in makeshift tent camps. The US, Egypt, and Qatar have been mediating talks for a year with no success before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-air-strikes-ramp-up-gaza-death-toll-amid-new-truce-push-2025-01-03